Waves, Sound and Light: Vibrations and Waves
We have 15 ready-to-use problem sets on the topic of Vibrations and Waves. These problem sets focus on the use of basic wave quantities like frequency, period, wavelength, amplitude and speed to analyze physical situations involving vibrating objects and wave motion.
Click a link to open a publicly-available problem set. If you are a Task Tracker student, open the assignment using the link on the Task Tracker assignment board.
Problem Set WM1: Frequency and Period
Use information about an object undergoing periodic motion in order to determine the frequency and/or the period of vibration. Includes 6 problems.
Problem Set WM2: Pendulum Motion
Relate the frequency and the period of a pendulum’s vibrations to the length of the pendulum. Includes 6 problems.
Problem Set WM3: Mass on a Spring
Relate the frequency and period of a mass undergoing simple harmonic motion to the spring constant and the mass of the vibrating object. Includes 7 problems.
Problem Set WM4: Wavelength
Analyze a wave pattern and use the wavelength concept to relate the number of waves in a pattern and the distance between two points to the wavelength of the wave. Includes 9 problems.
Problem Set WM5: Wave Speed 1
Relate the speed of a wave to the distance the wave travels in a specified amount of time. Includes 6 problems.
Problem Set WM6: Wave Speed 2
Use information about the frequency and the wavelength to determine the speed of a wave. Includes 6 problems.
Problem Set WM7: Wave Speed 3
Use information about the wave speed and the frequency or the wavelength to calculate the wavelength or the frequency of a wave. Includes 7 problems.
Problem Set WM8: Wave Speed 4
Use the relationships between frequency and period, between distance, time, and speed, and between speed, frequency, and wavelength to determine unknown wave quantities. Includes 6 problems.
Problem Set WM9: Wave Speed 5
Use the relationships between frequency and period, between distance, time, and speed, and between speed, frequency, and wavelength to determine unknown wave quantities. Includes 6 problems.
Problem Set WM10: Standing Wave Patterns 1
Determine the wavelength of the waves forming a standing wave pattern when given a diagram of the pattern and the length of the rope. Includes 6 problems.
Problem Set WM11: Standing Wave Patterns 2
Determine the wavelength of the waves forming a standing wave pattern when given the harmonic number and the length of the wire. Includes 6 problems.
Problem Set WM12: Standing Wave Mathematics 1
Analyze physical situations involving standing waves to determine the frequency, wavelength, or speed. Includes 7 problems.
Problem Set WM13: Standing Wave Mathematics 2
Analyze standing wave situations to relate the frequency, wavelength, speed harmonic pattern (or number), and the number of vibrations in a given amount of time. Includes 7 problems.
Problem Set WM14: Standing Wave Mathematics 3
Analyze standing wave situations to relate the frequency, wavelength, speed harmonic pattern (or number), and the number of vibrations in a given amount of time. Includes 7 problems.
Problem Set WM15: Wave Behavior
Analyze situations involving wave interference or boundary behavior. Includes 4 problems.