Light and Sound Waves Practice Test
Correctly complete each of the following statements correctly.
1. The lowest point on a wave is its _______________.
2. The spreading of white light into the colors which make it up as it passes through a prism is called _______________.
3. The peak of a wave is called its _______________.
4. The distance between crests or other similar points on waves which
are side by side
(adjacent) is called one _______________.
5. One-half of the height between the crest and the trough of a wave is a measure of that wave's _______________.
6. The number of waves which pass a point in one second is a measure of the _______________ of those waves.
7. The bouncing of light from an object is called _______________.
8. The bending of light rays as they pass between two different
substances is called
_______________.
9. The angle an incoming light ray is called the angle of _____________________.
10. Light is an example of a(n) _______________ wave.
11. Sound is an example of a(n) _______________ wave.
12. Particles in a(n) ____________________wave move parallel to the direction of its motion.
13. Particles in a(n) ____________________ wave move at right angles to the direction of its motion.
14. The boundary between two different media is called a(n) __________________.
Multiple Choice Section: Choose the statement or phrase which best completes each of the following statements or answers the following questions.
1. What happens when white light passes through a prism?
(1.) It is separated into all the
colors of the visible spectrum.
(2.) It is reflected back in the
same direction it came from.
(3.) It demonstrates diffraction by
bending around a corner.
(4.) It is reflected at angles
according to the law of reflection.
2. What is diffraction?
(1.) the action that occurs when
waves strike an object and bounce off
(2.) the bending of waves when they
move from one medium to another
(3.) the absorption of light when it
strikes an object
(4.) the bending of waves around a
barrier
3. Electromagnetic waves like light are different from other types of waves in that they do not (1.) have amplitude (2.) have frequency (3.) transfer energy (4.) need a medium
4. When does reflection occur?
(1.) when light strikes an object
and is absorbed
(2.) only when an object is placed
in front of a mirror
(3.) when waves are bent in the
process of moving from one medium to another
(4.) when a wave strikes an object
and bounces off
5. The high and low points on a transverse wave are called by
which of these names?
(1.) peaks and valleys
(2.) amplitudes and frequencies (3.) whitecaps and eddies
(4.) crests and troughs
6. How is the wavelength of a transverse wave determined?
(1.) by multiplying the wave's amplitude by its
frequency
(2.) by measuring the distance from one crest to
the next or from one trough to the next
(3.) by snapping a rope up and down
(4.) by having a medium move at right angles to
wave travel
7. How are a wave's frequency and its wavelength related?
(1.) the greater the frequency, the greater the
wavelength
(2.) the greater the frequency, the smaller the
wavelength
(3.) wavelength is equal to frequency
(4.) there is no connection between wavelength
and frequency
8. Which statement describes how sound waves travel through
different media?
(1.) The medium has no influence on sound wave
travel.
(2.) Sound waves travel better through air than
through anything else.
(3.) Sound waves travel better through liquids
and solids than through air.
(4.) Sound waves cannot travel through liquids
and solids.
9. Why does the speed of sound depend on the temperature of the
medium through which sound waves travel?
(1.) As temperature increases, molecules
in the medium collide more often.
(2.) The human ear collects sound more
efficiently at higher temperatures.
(3.) Sound waves get longer at higher
temperatures.
(4.) Sound waves work like springs, and
springs lose flexibility when they're cold
10. The Doppler effect explains which of these situations?
(1.) the tsunami, a huge ocean wave
produced by an earthquake
(2.) the reason loud noises bother
some people but not others
(3.) the change in a siren's pitch
as the siren moves toward you
(4.) the destruction of hair cells
by loud noises
11. What causes the process called interference?
(1.) one wave knocks another wave off its course
(2.) any sudden change in pitch, due to the
Doppler effect
(3.) two or more sound waves combining to form a
new wave
(4.) any unpleasant sound
12. Sound cannot travel through (1.) solids (2.) liquids (3.) gases (4.) empty space
13. Wave frequency is measured in (1.) hertz (2.) decibels (3.) meters (4.) meters/second
14. In a rarefaction, the molecules of the medium are (1.) spaced apart (2.) close together (3.) undisturbed (4.) spaced the same as in a compression of that medium.
15. Wavelength is measured in (1.)
seconds (2.) hertz (3.) meters (4.) cycles
16. Frequency is measured in (1.) wavelengths (2.) meters
(3.) centimeters
(4.) hertz
17. One wave per second is a definition of one (1.) compression
(2.) hertz
(3.) displacement (4.) wavelength.
18. Lambda is the symbol for (1.) wavelength (2.)
amplitude (3.) frequency
(4.) cycles
True-False Section
Identify each of the following statements as true or false.
_____ 1. As the amplitude of a wave increases its energy decreases.
_____ 2. Sound normally travels faster in solids than in liquids.
_____ 3. Increasing the frequency of a series of waves (a wave train) increases the total energy of the wave train.
_____ 4. Matter through which a wave passes is called a medium.
_____ 5. Illumination refers to the amount of light falling on the surface of an object.
_____ 6. When light strikes a surface some light rays will be reflected, some will be absorbed, and some may be transmitted.
_____ 7. Destructive interference occurs when the crest of one wave meets the crest of another wave.
_____ 8. Constructive interference occurs when the crest of one wave meets the trough of another wave.
_____ 9. A rainbow provides an example of dispersion in nature.
Short Answer Section
1. List the component colors of the visible light spectrum.
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3. Identify the regions of the transverse wave indicated by the numbers in the diagram at the right. |
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4. State the Law of Reflection.
5. Light is said to have a dual nature. Explain what
is meant by this statement.
Send any comments about this practice test to jbuckley@ekcsk12.org