Middle School Physical Science : Predict whether a wave will be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through materials
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Middle School Physical Science
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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Waves And Electromagnetism
What is the definition of refraction?
when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through
when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle
these are all examples of refraction
when waves bend as they enter a new medium
when waves bend as they enter a new medium
The answer is "when waves bend as they enter a new medium"
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
Example Question #12 : Waves And Electromagnetism
You yell to your friend around the corner of a building. The sound waves don't travel through the wall, but your friend can still hear you. This is an example of what?
reflection
refraction
transmission
diffraction
diffraction
The answer is diffraction.
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
Example Question #3 : Predict Whether A Wave Will Be Reflected, Absorbed, Or Transmitted Through Materials
Ocean waves are made of liquid, but they are still waves! When they bounce off rocks and move around them because they can't go through them, these are examples of what two concepts?
refraction and diffraction
transmission and reflection
reflection and refraction
reflection and diffraction
reflection and diffraction
The answer is "reflection and diffraction." because bouncing back is reflection, and going around the rocks is diffraction.
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
Example Question #13 : Waves And Electromagnetism
An echo bouncing off the walls of a cave is an example of which concept?
refraction
diffraction
transmission
reflection
reflection
The answer is reflection.
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
Example Question #1 : Predict Whether A Wave Will Be Reflected, Absorbed, Or Transmitted Through Materials
Which of these best explains what's happening in the picture above?
the pencil is being refracted as it enters the water
the pencil appears to be broken because the light waves are being refracted as they enter the water
the pencil is being reflected at an angle as it enters the water
the pencil appears to be diffracted as it enters the water
the pencil appears to be broken because the light waves are being refracted as they enter the water
The answer is "the pencil appears to be broken because the light waves are being refracted as they enter the water."
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
Example Question #12 : Waves And Electromagnetism
This image from NASA shows how electromagnetic waves travel through glass. According to this image are the waves transmitted, reflected, refracted, diffracted, or some combination of the four?
the waves are transmitted and refracted
the waves are reflected and refracted
the waves are transmitted and diffracted
the waves are refracted and diffracted
the waves are transmitted and refracted
The waves are transmitted and refracted.
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
Example Question #17 : Waves And Electromagnetism
The image shows a photograph of fire taken in normal light, vs. one taken in blue light. Blue light has shorter wavelengths and makes the image more clear. This is likely because:
less light is refracted and reflected off the air around the fire
there is more light in the photo
more light is refracted or reflected off the fire
more light is used around the fire to make the whole image brighter
less light is refracted and reflected off the air around the fire
The answer is "less light is refracted and reflected off the air around the fire." This would cause less image distortion.
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
Example Question #18 : Waves And Electromagnetism
This image shows how the optical effect, rainbows, are created by light traveling through rain drops or moisture in the air. Which of these can you see in the image?
transmission only
transmission and refraction
transmission, reflection, refraction
reflection only
transmission, reflection, refraction
The answer is transmission, reflection, and refraction. All three of these play a part in making rainbows.
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
Example Question #19 : Waves And Electromagnetism
Earthquakes are caused by the energy of seismic waves, and can be felt even far away. Scientists use receivers to collect data about Earthquakes by studying these waves as they move through Earth's crust. Based on this diagram, scientists rely on what type of wave movement for their receivers to collect data?
reflection and transmission
transmission and diffraction
refraction only
reflection only
reflection and transmission
The answer is reflection and transmission. The waves are both moving through the Earth and bouncing off layers towards the receivers.
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
Example Question #14 : Waves And Electromagnetism
In terms of the reflection, refraction, and transmission of waves, what is a medium?
an object that a wave cannot pass through
a prediction of a wave's movement
a material a wave travels through
a wave that is not big or small, but middle sized
a material a wave travels through
a medium is a material that a wave travels through.
When waves approach objects they do not just stop or disappear. They can be reflected off the object, diffracted around the object, or transmitted through it (accompanied by refraction)! It all depends on the kind of wave, and the “medium” or type of object the wave is traveling through.
Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a barrier they cannot pass through. An echo is an example of wave reflection. Reflection can happen with any type of waves, not just sound waves.
Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle. For example, light bends when it passes from air to water.
Diffraction occurs when waves spread out, move around, or pass through an opening in an obstacle. All waves may be diffracted, but it is more pronounced in some types of waves than others. For example, sound waves bend around corners much more than light does. That’s why you can hear but not see around corners.
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