Crave the Wave

In Crave The Wave, participants will demonstrate knowledge and process skills needed to solve problems and answer questions regarding all types and areas of waves and wave motion.

2009
Note that for 2009 there are no regional, state, and national topics. You are required to know all of the topics for every level of competition.

Topics
Regionals Topics: General Wave characteristics-Wavelength, amplitude, frequency, period.

Wave Types- Tranverse, longitudinal, surface, torsional waves.

Wave Phenomenon- Sound and Light, reflection, standing waves, constuctive and destructive interference, refraction, effect of media diffraction, Doppler effect.

Electromagnetic Waves- Electromagnetic spectrum, relationship between frequency and wavelength, energy carried (AM/FM only), standard wavelength bands, their uses and dangers.

Others are about how the electromagnetic spectrum relates to everyday life and the knowledge of mechanical and electromagnetic waves.

Some calculations are required. Such as calculation of frequency, wavelength, and speed.

(Calculator required)

Regional Topics
The 2 main types of waves are longitudinal and transverse. Transverse waves propagate at a 90� angle to the medium- they move up and down. Longitudinal waves move forwards and backwards. An example would be a slinky. Surface waves take place in water. They are called orbitals, and move in circles. Torsional waves twist and spin. It is like a screw being drilled, or moving your arms back and forth while keeping them flat.

State Topics
At States you will demonstrate your knowledge Absorption sprectra, primary colors of pigments, emission spectra. Earthquakes are also included with waves like P/S-waves, Rayleigh waves, Love waves, and surface waves.

National Topics
In addition to the Regional and State topics Nationals will introduce Breaking ocean waves and Tsunamis.

Earthquake Waves
There are 5 major earthquake waves they are, P waves, S-waves, Surface waves, Rayleigh Waves, and Love waves. They appear in that order also. P-waves are primary waves are longitudinal waves, they are the first arrive and they cant travel through water. S-waves or secondary waves are transverse waves, they arrive second and can travel through water. Surface Wave arrive next they are a combination oh P and S waves. Rayleigh waves are next it also a combo. Last are the Love waves and yes they are deadly XD these are also a combo of the first two and are the waves that people feel and make buildings collapse.

Sample Questions
If the frequency is 2 Hz (2 cycles per second), what is the wavelength?

If the wavelength is 2 cm, what is the frequency in Hz (cycles per second)?

If the period is 2 seconds, what is the Frequency?

What is Destructive Interference?

Which seismic wave is faster? Primary waves or Secondary waves?

Given an image of a wave, identify the wavelength.

Sample Exercises
[[Media:Crave the Wave Resource Binder.pdf|A Crave the Wave Resource Binder (2007-2008)]]

[[Media: 2009 Crave the Wave Practice Test.pdf|2009 Crave the Wave Test (2009)]]

Websites
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/waves/wavestoc.html