Sound Waves

Which term best describes sound waves?

• Longitudinal wave

• Electromagnetic wave

• Transverse wave

Which term best describes a sound wave?

• Mechanical wave

• Transverse wave

• Electromagnetic wave

What term relates to the frequency of a sound?

• Pitch

• Loudness

• Echo

The loudness of a sound wave is based on the wave's _________________________.

• Frequency

• Amplitude

• Wavelength

• Period

Sound cannot be heard in the vacuum of space. Choose which best answers why.

• There is too much solar radiation which causes sound not to travel in space

• Sound is an electromagnetic wave, which means it needs a medium to travel through. In space there is no medium.

• There is no air in space, so there is nothing to transmit sound from one point to another.

• Sound can travel in space. Total conspiracy theory that it can't.

In which substance would you expect sound to travel the fastest?

• Air

• Water

• Steel

A sound wave has a high pitch and is very loud. What does that mean in terms of the wave itself?

• It has a low frequency and a high amplitude

• It has a high frequency and a low amplitude

• It has a high frequency and a long wavelength

• It has a high frequency and a high amplitude

A sound wave is a pressure wave; regions of high (compressions) and low pressure (rarefactions) are established as the result of the vibrations of the sound source. These compressions and rarefactions result because sound:

• is more dense than air and thus has more inertia, causing the bunching up of sound.

• vibrates longitudinally; the longitudinal movement of air produces pressure fluctuations.

• is like all waves; it is able to bend into the regions of space behind obstacles.

• is able to reflect off fixed ends and interfere with incident waves

Which answer best describes a sound wave?

• Longitudinal and transverse

• Longitudinal and Electromagnetic

• Longitudinal and mechanical

• Transverse and mechanical

As sound enters your ear, it strikes the tympanic membrane which vibrates tiny bones which transmits the sound to the inner ear. What's the common name for the tympanic membrane?

• Ear lobe

• Ear drum

• Ear wax

• Ear ball