Light and Sound Waves

Which of the following represents the correct order for how a speaker generates a sound which you can hear?

• Speaker vibrates --> Energy transferred through air --> Sound waves enter your ear

• Speaker vibrates --> Sound waves enter your ear --> Energy transferred through air

• Sound waves enter your ear --> Energy transferred through air --> Speaker vibrates

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

An ambulance has its siren on. What direction is the ambulance moving relative to you if the siren is decreasing in pitch?

• behind you

• toward you

• away from you

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

The medium through which a sound wave passes can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas. Properties of a wave might change when it moves from one medium to another. What happens to the speed of a sound wave when the medium changes from a gas to a solid?

• it speeds up.

• it slows down.

• it remains the same.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

In which of the following settings would sound waves travel the fastest through the air?

• a cool, rainy day in Seattle

• a desert in southern Texas

• a winter day in North Dakota

A sound is produced near a large wall. What process causes the wave to bounce back, as shown in the image?

• constructive interference

• absorption

• reflection

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A sonic boom is produced by a jet. What can you determine about the jet's motion?

• It is increasing in altitude.

• The planes engine backfired.

• It is traveling faster than the speed of sound.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

What happens during an ultrasound procedure to produce an image of a patient's body?

• Ultrasonic waves reflect off the patient's internal organs.

• Ultraviolet waves reflect off the patient's internal organs.

• Ultrasonic waves pass through the patient's internal organs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

When sound waves move through a medium, in what direction do the particles in the medium move?

• The particles always move up and down.

• The particles always move in the same direction as the wave.

• The particles always move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

What role does the inner ear play in hearing sounds?

• It converts vibrations into electrical signals.

• It helps determine if a sound is in front of or behind you.

• It reflects high and low frequencies back to their source.

A hiker is in the Grand Canyon. Which surface would provide the clearest echo?

• the rocky canyon walls

• the sandy riverbank

• the surface of the river

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2