Transverse And Longitudinal Waves Quiz

1.

Forces can cause waves by

A.

Canceling them out
B.

Moving large amounts of matter
C.

Creating disturbances
D.

Providing a medium

Correct Answer
C. Creating disturbances

Explanation
Forces can cause waves by creating disturbances. When a force is applied to a medium, it can disrupt the equilibrium and create a disturbance in the form of a wave. This disturbance travels through the medium, causing particles to move in a wave-like motion. The force can be applied directly to the medium, such as when a person throws a stone into a calm pond, or indirectly, such as when wind blows over the surface of water, creating waves. In either case, the force creates a disturbance that propagates as a wave.

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2.

Roads can be bent or broken far away from an earthquake;s center. This shows that earthquake waves

A.

Move rocks away from the center
B.

Are longitudinal waves
C.

Raise and lower the ground level near the center
D.

Transfer energy over a distance

Correct Answer
D. Transfer energy over a distance

Explanation
The fact that roads can be bent or broken far away from an earthquake's center suggests that earthquake waves transfer energy over a distance. This is because the energy carried by the waves causes the ground to shake and can cause damage to structures even at a significant distance from the epicenter.

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3.

Which of the following is an example of a longitudinal wave?

A.

A sound wave
B.

A wave made by a moving rope
C.

A wave made by dipping your hand in a pond
D.

An ocean wave

Correct Answer
A. A sound wave

Explanation
A sound wave is an example of a longitudinal wave because it consists of compressions and rarefactions that travel through a medium, such as air or water, in a parallel direction to the wave's motion. In a sound wave, particles of the medium vibrate back and forth parallel to the direction of the wave, resulting in the transfer of energy. This is characteristic of longitudinal waves, where the displacement of particles is parallel to the direction of wave propagation. The other options mentioned, such as a wave made by a moving rope, a wave made by dipping your hand in a pond, and an ocean wave, are examples of transverse waves, where the displacement of particles is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

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4.

At the beach, Paula measures how many wave crests reach the shore in a given time. She is finding the wave;s

A.

Amplitude
B.

Frequency
C.

Speed
D.

Wavelength

Correct Answer
B. Frequency

Explanation
Paula is measuring the number of wave crests that reach the shore in a given time. The frequency of a wave refers to the number of complete wave cycles that occur in a given time period. Therefore, Paula's measurement of the number of wave crests reaching the shore corresponds to the frequency of the waves.

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5.

Martin wants to know the wavelength of the wve made when he dips his finger into a pond. What should he measure?

A.

The speed at which the wave travels
B.

The number of troughs he sees in one second
C.

The height of each crest
D.

The distance between one trough and the next

Correct Answer
D. The distance between one trough and the next

Explanation
To determine the wavelength of a wave, Martin should measure the distance between one trough and the next. The wavelength is the spatial period of a wave, representing the distance between two consecutive points with the same phase, such as two adjacent troughs or crests. By measuring the distance between troughs, Martin can determine the length of one complete wave cycle, which is the wavelength.

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6.

A wave has a wave length of 20 m and a frequeny of 4 wavelengths/s. What is the wave's speed?

A.

5 m/s
B.

16 m/s
C.

24 m/s
D.

80 m/s

Correct Answer
D. 80 m/s

Explanation
The speed of a wave can be calculated by multiplying its wavelength by its frequency. In this case, the wavelength is given as 20 m and the frequency is given as 4 wavelengths/s. Multiplying these values together gives us a speed of 80 m/s.

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7.

Will shouts "Hello" in a canyon. The sound bounces back to him as an echo. This is an example of a wave

A.

Being reflected
B.

Being refracted
C.

Being diffracted
D.

Interfering with another wave

Correct Answer
A. Being reflected

Explanation
When Will shouts "Hello" in a canyon, the sound waves travel through the air and hit the canyon walls. The sound waves then bounce back towards Will, creating an echo. This process is known as reflection, where the sound waves are redirected back towards the source. Therefore, the correct answer is "being reflected."

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8.

Refractions happens when a wave

A.

Strikes a barrier
B.

Passes through a small opening
C.

Meets another wave
D.

Moves from one medium to another

Correct Answer
D. Moves from one medium to another

Explanation
Refractions occur when a wave transitions from one medium to another. As it moves from a medium with one set of properties to a medium with different properties, such as a change in density or composition, the wave changes direction. This change in direction is caused by the change in speed of the wave as it enters the new medium. Therefore, the correct answer is "moves from one medium to another."

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9.

One example of diffraction is a

A.

Wave in a pond spreading as it passes a rock
B.

Light wave bouncing off a mirror
C.

Speaker producing sound waves
D.

Straw in a glass of water appearing to be split

Correct Answer
A. Wave in a pond spreading as it passes a rock

Explanation
Diffraction refers to the bending or spreading of waves as they encounter an obstacle or pass through an opening. In the given options, the only example that demonstrates this phenomenon is a wave in a pond spreading as it passes a rock. As the wave encounters the rock, it will diffract or spread outwards, creating a pattern of ripples around the obstacle. This is a clear example of diffraction, while the other options do not involve the bending or spreading of waves.

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10.

Ronda put two speakers in her room. In one place, the sound was much quieter than in the rest of the room. What might cause this?

A.

Constructive interference
B.

Destructive interference
C.

Diffraction
D.

Reflection

Correct Answer
B. Destructive interference

Explanation
Destructive interference occurs when two sound waves meet and their crests and troughs align, causing them to cancel each other out. In this scenario, it is likely that the two speakers are producing sound waves that are out of phase with each other, resulting in areas of quiet sound where the waves are canceling each other. This explains why the sound is much quieter in one place compared to the rest of the room.

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