Middle School Physical Science : Interpret simple models of waves
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Middle School Physical Science
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Waves And Electromagnetism
Which of these is NOT a characteristic of a wave?
amplitude
mass
crest
wavelength
mass
The answer is mass. Waves are energy and do not have mass.
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period:the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
Example Question #2 : Interpret Simple Models Of Waves
What is wavelength?
the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wavelength is the distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave.
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period: the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
Example Question #2 : Waves And Electromagnetism
Which of these letters represents the amplitude of the wave?
R
T
S
Q
S
The answer is "S"
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave
Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period:the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
Example Question #3 : Waves And Electromagnetism
Which of these represents a wavelength?
S
R
T
Q
Q
The answer is Q
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave
Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period: the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
Example Question #4 : Waves And Electromagnetism
Which of these shows the wave height (the distance from the crest to the trough)?
Q
T
R
S
T
The answer is T
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave
Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period: the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
Example Question #5 : Waves And Electromagnetism
Which of these will you NOT find on the diagram?
crest
period
amplitude
wavelength
period
The answer is "period" because period is an amount of time, and not listed on this diagram.
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave
Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period: the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
Example Question #6 : Waves And Electromagnetism
Assume the diagram shows a wave over the course of one second. What is an appropriate estimate of the frequency of this wave?
150 Hz
1.5 Hz
175 Hz
1.75 Hz
1.75 Hz
The answer is 1.75 Hz because the wave goes through 1.75 full cycles.
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave
Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period: the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
Example Question #8 : Interpret Simple Models Of Waves
What missing variable would be required to calculate the speed of this wave given this diagram?
the value of the amplitude
the total energy
the period
the value of the wavelength
the period
The answer is "the period" because wave speed is wavelength times frequency and you cannot calculate frequency without the period.
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave
Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period: the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
Example Question #7 : Waves And Electromagnetism
What is amplitude in reference to simple models on waves?
The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
the distance from the equilibrium point on a wave and either a crest or a trough
the distance between a crest and a trough
the highest point on a wave
the distance from the equilibrium point on a wave and either a crest or a trough
The answer is "the distance from the equilibrium point on a wave and either a crest or a trough"
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave
Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period: the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
Example Question #8 : Waves And Electromagnetism
What is a "trough" in a simple model of a wave?
the lowest point on a wave
none of these
the highest point on a wave
the center point on a wave
the lowest point on a wave
The answer is "the lowest point on a wave"
Energy takes two forms, particles and waves. Waves can be absorbed, reflected, refracted or even diffracted depending on the medium they interact with. It’s important to understand waves because we interact with them all the time. Think about microwaves, x-ray machines, eyeglasses, tsunamis in the ocean, radios and speakers. The properties of a simple wave are:
Wavelength: The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave
Wave frequency:the number of cycles an object or wave goes through in 1 second
Crest: the highest point on a wave
Trough: the lowest point on a wave
Period: the amount of time for the harmonic motion to repeat itself, or for the object to go one full cycle
Amplitude: The distance from the equilibrium (or center) point of the wave to either its lowest or highest point
Speed: wavelength (in m) x frequency (in Hz). It varies in solids, liquids and gases.
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