High School Physics : High School Physics
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Types Of Waves
In a vacuum, the velocity of all electromagnetic waves
Is zero
depends on the frequency
depends on the amplitude
Is nearly
Is nearly
Electromagnetic waves all travel at the same speed which is the speed of light. The speed of light in a vacuum is nearly
Example Question #4 : Types Of Waves
A radio station broadcasts at a frequency of 
The relationship between wavelength and frequency is given by the equation 
We are given the values for frequency and the speed of light, allowing us to solve for the wavelength.
Example Question #2 : Types Of Waves
In seismology, the 
First perpendicular, then parallel
First parallel, then perpendicular
Parallel
Perpendicular
Perpendicular
Transverse waves are waves whose particles travel perpendicular to the direction that the wave itself is traveling. Electromagnetic waves are another example of transverse waves.
Example Question #1 : Properties Of Waves
After exercising, Jane takes her pulse. She realizes that her heart is beating rapidly, approximately four beats every second. What is the period of her elevated heart rate?
When you see a relationship like "times every second" or "once per hour," these are hints you are looking at a frequency. Frequency is, effectively, how often something happens. If it happens four times per second, then we know how often it happens. The units "per second" are equivalent to Hertz.
The relationship between frequency and period is 
Since our given frequency was four beats per second, or 
This means that her heart beats once every 
Example Question #2 : Properties Of Waves
A wave oscillates with a speed of 
The equation for velocity in terms of wavelength and frequency is 
We are given the velocity and the wavelength. Using these values, we can solve for the frequency.
Example Question #2 : Properties Of Waves
A wave with a constant velocity doubles its frequency. What happens to its wavelength?
The new wavelength will also double.
There is insufficient information to solve.
The new wavelength will be 12 the old wavelength.
The wavelengths will be the same.
The new wavelength will be 12 the old wavelength.
The relationship between velocity, frequency, and wavelength is:
In this case we're given a scenario where 
Notice that the f's cancel out:
Divide both sides by two:
Example Question #3 : Properties Of Waves
Two notes are played simultaneously. One of them has a period of 
We need to know the period in order to solve
They have the same wavelength
We need to know the frequency in order to solve
The relationship between frequency and wavelength determines the velocity:
The frequency is the inverse of the period. We can substitute this into the equation above.
In the question, both of the notes are played at the same time in the same location, so they both should have the same velocity. We can set the equation for each tone equal to each other.
We are told that 
We can cancel the period from each side of the equation, leaving the relationship between the two wavelengths.
The wavelength of the first wave is equal to half the wavelength of the second. This means that the wavelength for the tone with a longer period will have a longer wavelength as well.
Example Question #1 : Properties Of Waves
A wave has a frequency of 
The relationship between frequency and period is 
Plug in our given value:
Example Question #971 : High School Physics
What is the wavelength of the wave above?
The wavelength of a wave is defined as the distance from a point on the wave to the same point on the wave (crest to crest or trough to trough). The distance between peaks is 
Example Question #972 : High School Physics
What is the amplitude of the wave above?
The amplitude of wave is defined as the distance the wave displaces from the equilibrium point. In this case, the wave displaces 
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