Characteristics of Waves
Waves and Energy
1. How are waves and energy related? (23-1)
2. Where do waves get their energy? (23-1)
Types of Waves
3. What is an electromagnetic wave? (25-1)
4. Compare electromagnetic and mechanical waves. (23-1)
5. What is the electromagnetic spectrum? List the waves that make up the EM spectrum. Circle the
ones that are used in your program area. (25-2)
6. What is sound? What kinds of waves carry sound? (24-1)
7. Compare sound and light. (25-1)
8. Compare transverse waves and longitudinal waves. Give an example of each. (23-3)
9. What kinds of waves can be found in your program area?
Characteristics of Waves
10. Define three basic characteristics of a wave. (23-2)
11. What is the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength? (23-4)
12. How do frequency, wavelength, and energy change as you move along the EM spectrum? (25-2)
13. Compare the transmission of sound in solids, liquids, and gases. (24-1)
14. What characteristic of sound is determined by its frequency? (24-2)
15. What characteristic of sound is determined by its amplitude? (24-2)
16. Provide at least five ways the EM spectrum applies to your program area. (25-2)
17. What is the difference between music and noise? (24-4)
18. Identify at least three luminous and three illuminated objects in your program area. (25-3)
19. Compare incandescent, fluorescent, and neon light bulbs. (25-3)
20. Compare the wave and particle natures of light (25-4)
21. What evidence exists for light as a particle? (25-4)
22. Describe the ray model of light (26-1)
23. What is a light ray? (26-1)
Wave Interactions
24. Name and describe the four wave interactions. (23-5)
25. Compare constructive and destructive interference? (23-5)
26. What is a standing wave? (23-5)
27. Create a list of at least five good conductors of sound and five poor conductors of sound that might
be found in your program area.(24-1)
28. Describe the Doppler Effect. (24-2)
29. Suggest some ways that your shop area could be soundproofed. Why would these methods
decrease the amount of sound produced in the room? (24-3)
30. Explain how music is produced by stringed, woodwind, and percussion instruments (24-4).
31. Propose ways that you could “make” a stringed, woodwind, and percussion instrument using
material from your program area. (24-4)
32. Identify three different surfaces in your program areas and explain whether the reflection would be
regular or diffuse. (26-2)
33. Compare the surfaces of and images formed by plane, concave, and convex mirrors. (26-2)
34. Describe the process of refraction. (26-3)
35. How can you determine which way a light ray will bend when it enters a new medium? (26-3)
36. Which color refracts the most and which refracts the least? (26-3)
37. Identify a transparent, translucent, and opaque substance from your program area (26-4)
38. Compare the primary colors of light and the primary colors of pigments. (26-4)