Waves and Wave Characteristics
Name: ____________________________________
1.
Figure 1
The diagram shows two pulses, A and B, moving to the right along a uniform rope. Compared to pulse A,
pulse B has
1. a slower speed and more energy
2. a faster speed and less energy
3. a faster speed and the same energy
4. the same speed and more energy
2.
Figure 2
The graph shows displacement versus time for a particle of a uniform medium as a wave passes through the
medium. What is the frequency of the wave?
1. 10 Hz
2. 20 Hz
3. 50 Hz
4. 100 Hz
1
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Waves and Wave Characteristics
3.
The diagram shows a transverse pulse moving to the right in a string.
Which diagram below best represents the motion of point P as the pulse passes point P?
4.
Figure 3
The diagram shows a periodic wave. Which of the two points on the wave are in phase?
1. A and C
2. B and D
3. C and F
4. E and G
5.
Which phenomenon occurs when an object absorbs wave energy that matches the object's natural frequency?
1. reflection
2. diffraction
3. resonance
4. interference
2
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Waves and Wave Characteristics
6.
Electrons oscillating with a frequency of 2.0 1010 hertz produce electromagnetic waves. These waves would
be classified as
1. infrared
2. visible
3. microwave
4. x ray
7.
Which term describes two points on a periodic wave that are moving in the same direction and have the same
displacement from their equilibrium positions?
1. dispersed
2. refracted
3. polarized
4. in phase
8.
Two waves of the same wavelength ( ) interfere to form a standing wave pattern as shown in the diagram.
What is the straight-line distance between consecutive nodes?
1. 1
2. 2
3.
4.
9.
Which characteristic of a wave changes as the wave travels across a boundary between two different media?
1. frequency
2. period
3. phase
4. speed
3
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Waves and Wave Characteristics
10.
A standing wave pattern is produced when a guitar string is plucked. Which characteristic of the standing
wave immediately begins to decrease?
1. speed
2. wavelength
3. frequency
4. amplitude
11.
Which wave diagram has both wavelength ( ) and amplitude (A) labeled correctly?
12.
Radio waves and gamma rays traveling in space have the same
1. frequency
2. wavelength
3. period
4. speed
13.
A motor is used to produce 4.0 waves each second in a string. What is the frequency of the waves?
1. 0.25 Hz
2. 15 Hz
3. 25 Hz
4. 4.0 Hz
4
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Waves and Wave Characteristics
14.
Which phenomenon cannot be exhibited by longitudinal waves?
1. reflection
2. refraction
3. diffraction
4. polarization
15.
Compared to the period of a wave of red light, the period of a wave of green light is
1. less
2. greater
3. the same
16.
What is the frequency of a wave if its period is 0.25 seconds?
1. 1.0 Hz
2. 0.25 Hz
3. 12 Hz
4. 4.0 Hz
17.
If the frequency of a periodic wave is doubled, the period of the wave will be
1. halved
2. doubled
3. quartered
4. quadrupled
5
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Waves and Wave Characteristics
18.
Figure 4
Which two wave representations in the diagram have the same amplitude?
1. A and C
2. A and D
3. B and D
4. C and D
19.
A periodic wave with a frequency of 10 hertz would have a period of
1. 1 s
2. 0.1 s
3. 10 s
4. 100 s
20.
Figure 5
In the diagram, the distance between points A and B on a wave is 5.0 meters. The wavelength of this wave is
1. 1.0 m
2. 2.0 m
3. 5.0 m
4. 4.0 m
6
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Waves and Wave Characteristics
Answer Key for Waves and Wave Characteristics
1. 4
2. 2
3. 1
4. 3
5. 3
6. 3
7. 4
8. 3
9. 4
10. 4
11. 3
12. 4
13. 4
14. 4
15. 1
16. 4
17. 1
18. 1
19. 2
20. 2
7
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