Mechanical and Electromagnetic Waves

Which of the following is true for sound waves?

• They require a medium.

• They are unrelated to vibrations.

• They cannot travel through liquids

• They can travel in a vacuum

How do electromagnetic and mechanical waves compare?

• Mechanical waves can only travel through a vacuum, but electromagnetic waves can travel through a solid, liquid, or gas.

• Mechanical waves can travel through a solid, liquid, or gas, but electromagnetic waves can only travel through a gas.

• Mechanical waves can only travel through a solid, liquid, or gas, but electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum.

• Mechanical waves can travel through a solid, liquid, or gas, but electromagnetic waves can only travel through a solid.

A student asks a series of questions about a wave. The answer to which question will allow the student to determine whether the wave is electromagnetic or mechanical?

• Does it require a medium in order to travel?

• Can it pass through air and water?

• Does it have a measurable speed?

• Does it have a measurable frequency?

What is the term used to describe the maximum distance that a sound wave displaces air molecules from their original undisturbed position?

• Amplitude

• Speed

• Frequency

• Wavelength

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

A student is measuring the distance between the crest and the rest position of both a mechanical wave and an electromagnetic wave. Which question is the student trying to answer?

• What is the speed of the waves?

• What is the amplitude of the waves?

• What is the wavelength of the waves?

• What is the frequency of the waves?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Which distance represents the wavelength?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Which distance represents the amplitude?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

What do radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, and gamma rays all have in common?

• They all have the same wavelength.

• They are electromagnetic waves.

• They are detected in the same way.

• They store the same amount of energy.

How many wavelengths separate point A and point B?

• 1.5

• 2.0

• 2.5

• 3.0

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Point A represents what?

• Trough

• Midpoint

• Crest

• node

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1