Waves Web Practice
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____
1. A section of a longitudinal wave where the particles are crowded together is called a
a. rarefaction.
c. vibration.
b. compression.
d. surface wave.
____
2. When the crests of one wave overlap the crests of another wave or waves, which of the following
occurs?
a. diffraction
c. constructive interference
b. destructive interference
d. resonant frequencies
____
3. A disturbance that sends energy through matter or empty space is called what?
a. wave
c. medium
b. trough
d. crest
____
4. What is the amplitude of a wave related to?
a. velocity
c. mass
b. speed
d. height
____
5. What is wavelength a measure of?
a. height of a wave
b. speed of a wave
____
c. temperature of a wave
d. distance between points on two waves
6. The frequency of a wave is measured using which of the following units?
a. decibel
c. meters per second
b. hertz
d. wavelength
Completion
Complete each statement.
7. All electromagnetic waves are ____________________ waves.
8. The distance between two rarefactions that are next to each other is called a(n)
____________________.
9. Multiplying the wavelength of a wave by the frequency of the wave gives the
____________________ of the wave.
Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below. Each term may be used only
once. Some terms may not be used.
diffraction
resonance
frequency
refraction
wave
amplitude
interference
wave speed
10. When a wave curves or bends around a barrier, ____________________ occurs.
Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below.
interference
destructive interference
constructive interference
resonant frequencies
11. When the crest of one wave overlaps the trough of another wave, is called
____________________.
Short Answer
12. How are mechanical and electromagnetic waves different?
13. What forms can a medium take?
14. What happens to a sound wave if there are no particles to vibrate?
15. What kind of wave forms when the vibrating particles move perpendicularly to the direction the
wave is going?
16. What is rarefaction?
17. Why does a wave with a large amplitude carry more energy than one with a small amplitude?
18. If wave speed is constant, as frequency increases, the ____________________ decreases.
19. When a wave bounces back from a barrier, ____________________ has occurred.
20. ____________________ occurs when a wave bends as it passes at an angle from one medium to a
different medium.
Matching
Match each item with the correct statement below.
a. transverse wave
e. longitudinal wave
b. electromagnetic wave
f. wave
c. trough
g. crest
d. medium
h. mechanical wave
____
____
____
21. a substance through which a wave can travel
22. a wave that does not need a medium but can go through matter
23. any disturbance that transmits energy through matter or empty space
____
24. the lowest point between each crest of a wave
Essay
25. How does a wave transfer energy without transferring matter?
26. Nuclear explosions are constantly happening on the surface of the sun, but we never hear them on
Earth. Explain why the explosions cannot be heard.
Other
USING SCIENCE SKILLS
Figure 17-2
27. Interpreting Illustrations What kind of wave does A in Figure 17-2 represent? What kind of
wave does B represent?
28. Inferring Compare the two waves in Figure 17-2. To what in wave B do the compressions of
wave A correspond? To what in wave B do the rarefactions correspond?
Figure 17-3
29. Analyzing Data What is the difference between wave A and wave B in Figure 17-3?
30. Inferring In Figure 17-3, both wave A and wave B were started by the same type of force—an upand-down motion. What conclusion can you make about the energy of these two wave-starting
forces?
31. Drawing Conclusions Consider both frequency and wavelength in Figure 17-3. How does each
variable change between wave C and wave D? What is the relationship between the change?
Assume the waves travel at the same speed.
Waves Web Practice
Answer Section
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. ANS:
OBJ:
2. ANS:
OBJ:
3. ANS:
OBJ:
4. ANS:
OBJ:
5. ANS:
OBJ:
6. ANS:
OBJ:
B
3
C
2
A
1
D
1
D
2
B
2
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 1
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 3
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 1
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 2
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 2
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 2
PTS: 1
8. ANS: wavelength
DIF:
1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
PTS: 1
9. ANS: speed
DIF:
1
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
DIF:
1
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
PTS: 1
DIF: 1
11. ANS: destructive interference
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
REF: 3
OBJ: 2
COMPLETION
7. ANS: transverse
PTS: 1
10. ANS: diffraction
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
SHORT ANSWER
12. ANS:
Mechanical waves require a medium through which to travel, but electromagnetic waves do not
require a medium. Electromagnetic waves can travel through substances such as air, water, and
glass, but they travel fastest through empty space.
PTS:
1
DIF:
2
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
13. ANS:
A medium can be a solid, liquid, or gas.
PTS: 1
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
14. ANS:
Since sound waves are mechanical waves, they require a medium. If there are no particles to
vibrate, no sound is possible.
PTS: 1
15. ANS:
transverse wave
DIF:
1
REF: 1
PTS: 1
DIF: 1
REF: 1
16. ANS:
part of a longitudinal wave where the particles are spread apart
OBJ: 2
OBJ: 3
PTS: 1
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
17. ANS:
The amplitude of the wave is related to its height. Because it takes more energy to move the
particles of the medium further from their rest position in a wave with a large amplitude, the wave
carries more energy.
PTS: 1
18. ANS:
wavelength
DIF:
1
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
PTS: 1
19. ANS:
reflection
DIF:
1
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
PTS: 1
20. ANS:
Refraction
DIF:
1
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
D
2
B
2
F
1
C
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 1
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 1
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 1
PTS:
1
DIF:
1
REF: 1
MATCHING
21. ANS:
OBJ:
22. ANS:
OBJ:
23. ANS:
OBJ:
24. ANS:
OBJ: 3
ESSAY
25. ANS:
Answers may vary. Sample answer: Most waves transfer energy by the vibration of particles in a
medium. The energy is passed from one particle to a particle next to it, causing each particle to
vibrate like the first particle. The vibration creates only a transfer of energy—it does not transfer
any of the matter or the medium. Some waves do not need a medium at all, and thus make no
contact with matter, or the wave can simply pass through matter.
PTS: 1
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
26. ANS:
Sound waves are mechanical waves, which must travel through a medium. Because no suitable
medium exists in outer space, sounds cannot reach Earth from the sun.
PTS:
1
DIF:
2
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
OTHER
27. ANS:
a longitudinal wave; a transverse wave
PTS: 1
DIF: L1
OBJ: 17.1.3
28. ANS:
Compressions in wave A correspond to crests in wave B. Rarefactions in wave A correspond to
troughs in wave B. Each of these conditions represents an extreme in which the coil is being
displaced from its rest position.
PTS: 1
DIF: L1
OBJ: 17.1.2 | 17.1.3 | 17.1.4
29. ANS:
Wave B has an amplitude that is one-half the amplitude of wave A.
PTS: 1
DIF: L2
OBJ: 17.2.3
30. ANS:
The force that caused wave A added more energy to the wave than the force that caused wave B.
PTS: 1
DIF: L2
OBJ: 17.1.2 | 17.2.3
31. ANS:
Between wave C and wave D, frequency doubles, but wavelength is halved. Wavelength is
inversely proportional to frequency.
PTS:
1
DIF:
L2
OBJ: 17.2.1