Middle School Physical Science : Middle School Physical Science

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Middle School Physical Science

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All Middle School Physical Science Resources

51 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #9 : Determine The Relationships Between Energy Transfer And Change In Kinetic Energy

Fill in the blank in the statement below:

If more hot water was added to a cup than cold water, the final temperature of the solution would be _________ in comparison to  a cup with equal parts cold and hot water.

Possible Answers:

equal too

greater than

less than

not enough information

Correct answer:

greater than

Explanation:

The answer is greater than because the equilibrium temperature would be higher in the cup with more warm water.

When heat energy is transferred to objects, the kinetic energy of the particles changes. Heat energy always moves towards equilibrium, meaning that hotter objects transfer their heat to colder objects, and at an atomic level kinetic energy is transferred from faster moving particles to slower moving particles.

There are three types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction: transfer of heat between two atoms that are touching
Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (light) where particles are not touching
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquid or gas) where hot particles rise and cold particles sink

Example Question #191 : Middle School Physical Science

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of a wave?

Possible Answers:

amplitude

wavelength

crest

mass

Correct answer:

mass

Explanation:

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 : Waves And Electromagnetism

What is wavelength?

Possible Answers:

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

Correct answer:

The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave

Explanation:

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 #192 : Middle School Physical Science

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

Which of these letters represents the amplitude of the wave?

Possible Answers:

T

S

R

Q

Correct answer:

S

Explanation:

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 #193 : Middle School Physical Science

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

Which of these represents a wavelength?

Possible Answers:

R

T

Q

S

Correct answer:

Q

Explanation:

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 #194 : Middle School Physical Science

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

Which of these shows the wave height (the distance from the crest to the trough)?

Possible Answers:

S

Q

T

R

Correct answer:

T

Explanation:

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 #195 : Middle School Physical Science

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

Which of these will you NOT find on the diagram?

Possible Answers:

crest

period

amplitude

wavelength

Correct answer:

period

Explanation:

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 #196 : Middle School Physical Science

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

Assume the diagram shows a wave over the course of one second. What is an appropriate estimate of the frequency of this wave?

Possible Answers:

1.75 Hz

150 Hz

175 Hz

1.5 Hz

Correct answer:

1.75 Hz

Explanation:

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

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

What missing variable would be required to calculate the speed of this wave given this diagram?

Possible Answers:

the value of the amplitude

the period

the value of the wavelength

the total energy

Correct answer:

the period

Explanation:

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 #197 : Middle School Physical Science

What is amplitude in reference to simple models on waves?

Possible Answers:

 the highest point on a wave

The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same place on the next wave

the distance between a crest and a trough

the distance from the equilibrium point on a wave and either a crest or a trough

Correct answer:

the distance from the equilibrium point on a wave and either a crest or a trough

Explanation:

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.

All Middle School Physical Science Resources

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