Waves and Electromagnetism

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Middle School Physical Science › Waves and Electromagnetism

Questions 1 - 10
1

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of a wave?

mass

wavelength

amplitude

crest

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.

2

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 1.04.27 pm

Which of these best explains what's happening in the picture above?

the pencil appears to be broken because the light waves are being refracted as they enter the water

the pencil is being refracted as it enters 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

Explanation

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.

3

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of a wave?

mass

wavelength

amplitude

crest

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.

4

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 1.04.27 pm

Which of these best explains what's happening in the picture above?

the pencil appears to be broken because the light waves are being refracted as they enter the water

the pencil is being refracted as it enters 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

Explanation

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.

5

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)?

Q

R

S

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.

6

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)?

Q

R

S

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.

7

In terms of the reflection, refraction, and transmission of waves, what is a medium?

a material a wave travels through

a wave that is not big or small, but middle sized

a prediction of a wave's movement

an object that a wave cannot pass through

Explanation

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.

8

In terms of the reflection, refraction, and transmission of waves, what is a medium?

a material a wave travels through

a wave that is not big or small, but middle sized

a prediction of a wave's movement

an object that a wave cannot pass through

Explanation

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.

9

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?

reflection and diffraction

reflection and refraction

refraction and diffraction

transmission and reflection

Explanation

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.

10

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

Which of these will you NOT find on the diagram?

period

crest

wavelength

amplitude

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.

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