Waves and Electromagnetism - Middle School Physical Science

Card 0 of 340

Question

What is a "trough" in a simple model of a wave?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of a wave?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

What is wavelength?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

Which of these letters represents the amplitude of the wave?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

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)?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

Which of these represents a wavelength?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 7.53.15 am

Which of these will you NOT find on the diagram?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

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?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

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?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

What is amplitude in reference to simple models on waves?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

What is the definition of refraction?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

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?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

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?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

An echo bouncing off the walls of a cave is an example of which concept?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 1.04.27 pm

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

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 1.04.14 pm

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?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 1.31.04 pm

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:

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 1.32.58 pm

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?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Screen shot 2020 05 29 at 1.48.02 pm

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?

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

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

Answer

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.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Tap the card to reveal the answer