4 Waves

4.1 Oscillations
Name: ………………………………. Date: ……………………………….

Oscillations 1
This is a graphical representation of a pendulum that is hanging from the edge of a tall office building.

1 What is the period of this wave?

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2 How many complete cycles are shown?
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3 What is the amplitude?
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4 What is the displacement at 5 seconds and at 11 seconds?
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5 List all of the times in which the graph cuts through equilibrium.
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6 What is the frequency of the pendulum?
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4.1 Oscillations

7 List the times that show maximum speed.

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8 List the times that show maximum kinetic energy.
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9 List the times that show maximum potential energy.
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4 Waves

4.1 Oscillations
Name: ………………………………. Date: ……………………………….

Oscillations 2
A spring-mass oscillating system is set up and a velocity-time graph is plotted.

1 Why are there positive and negative values for velocity?

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2 At what times is the spring in its equilibrium position?
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3 At what times does the spring have zero displacement?
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4 At what times does the spring have maximum acceleration?
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5 At what times does the spring have maximum displacement?
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6 At what times does the spring have maximum kinetic energy?
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4.1 Oscillations

7 At what time does the spring have maximum potential energy?

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8 If positive velocity represents the spring going up, at what times is the tension in the spring the greatest?
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9 At what times is the weight equal to the tension?
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4 Waves

4.1 Oscillations
Name: ………………………………. Date: ……………………………….

Oscillations 3

1 At what times is the displacement maximum?

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2 At what times is the displacement minimum?
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3 At what times is the velocity maximum?
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4 At what times is the velocity minimum?
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5 At what times is the kinetic energy maximum?
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6 At what times is the potential energy maximum?
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7 At what times is the object in equilibrium?
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4 Waves

4.1 Oscillations
Name: ………………………………. Date: ……………………………….

Oscillations 4
1 Sketch on graph paper the velocity-time graph for the graph below – do not include units on the y-axis.

2 What is the period of this wave?

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3 How many degrees are between the point at 5 seconds and the point at 11 seconds?
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4 How many radians are between the point at 3 seconds and the point at 14 seconds?
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5 What is the phase relationship between this graph and its corresponding acceleration-time graph?
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4 Waves

4.2 Travelling waves

Name: ………………………………. Date: ……………………………….

Travelling waves worksheet

For this worksheet you will need the following equations: v=fλ f = 1/T
1 Forty waves pass a given point in 12 seconds. Calculate the frequency and period of the waves.
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2 A ruler partially hangs over the end of a bench. It is supported at one end and made to vibrate at the other end
in an attempt to display simple harmonic motion. If the ruler has an amplitude of 0.22 cm and makes twelve
complete vibrations in 0.12 seconds, how far does the end of the ruler travel in 4.7 seconds?
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3 The distance between successive crests of a wave is 2.4 cm. If the frequency of the wave is 6.2 Hz, what is the
wave’s speed?
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4 Determine the period, amplitude, and frequency of the following wave:

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4.2 Travelling waves

5 A second wave has the same amplitude as the wave in question 4. If the second wave’s frequency is four
times that of the wave in question 4, at what time would the first crest appear? Assume that the second wave
starts at the same time as the first and it has a displacement of 0 m at t = 0 s.
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6 The distance between the first and third maximum compression in a longitudinal wave is 0.24 cm.
If the wave has a frequency of 16 Hz, what is its speed?
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7 The wavelength of a transverse wave is 0.80 m. What is the distance between two troughs if there are
three crests in between?
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4 Waves

4.2 Travelling waves

Name: ………………………………. Date: ……………………………….

Wave terminology

1 On the above graph, label a crest.

2 On the above graph, label a trough.
3 On the above graph, label the amplitude with an “A”.
4 On the above graph, label the period with a “T”.
5 Explain how to calculate the wavelength if the speed of the above wave is known.
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6 On the above graph, label all of the places where the wave has a maximum speed.
7 On the above graph, label all of the places where the wave has a maximum acceleration.
8 On the above graph, label a point on the wave that is in phase with the point (4, 0).
9 The above graph shows a transverse wave – true or false?
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4 Waves

4.2 Travelling waves

Name: ………………………………. Date: ……………………………….

Waves worksheet
1 A transverse wave is shown as it travels along a spring. When the time is zero seconds the
displacement of the spring is zero. On the same axis draw the displacement when the time
equals T/8.

2 Explain what is meant by the speed of a wave.

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