Characteristics of Waves

What happens when a source of energy causes a medium to vibrate?

• Mechanical waves form

• Electromagnetic waves form

• A mirage forms

• The frequency of the wave increases

What are the types of mechanical waves?

• Light waves, sound waves, and mirage waves

• Transverse waves, longitudinal waves, and surface waves

• Diffraction, refraction, and reflection

• Microwaves, radio waves, and gamma waves

Label the parts of the wave shown in the illustration. What kind of mechanical wave is being formed?

• 3. Trough ; 4. Crest ; Surface Wave

• 3. Amplitude ; 4. Crest ; Longitudinal Wave

• 3. Crest ; 4. Trough ; Transverse wave

• 3. Amplitude ; 4. Trough ; Electromagnetic Wave

What medium is the wave traveling through? How do you know the wave is a mechanical wave?

• The medium the wave is traveling through is the air. The wave must require a medium to travel through which is the air, so it is a mechanical wave.

• The medium the wave is traveling through is the hand. The wave does not require a medium to travel through, so it is a mechanical wave.

• The medium the wave is traveling through is empty space. The wave does not require a medium to travel through, so it is a mechanical wave.

• The medium the wave is traveling through is the rope. The wave must require a medium to travel through which is the rope, so it is a mechanical wave.

What type of mechanical wave is being illustrated as shown?

• Longitudinal Wave

• Transverse Wave

• Surface Wave

• Electromagnetic Wave

How do you find the wavelength of a transverse wave?

• Measure the distance between compressions.

• Measure the distance from one crest to the next.

• Measure the distance between rarefactions.

• Measure the distance between the crest and its rest position.

What characteristics do all waves share?

• Wavelength, hertz, rarefaction, and wave speed

• Wavelength, hertz, refraction, and compression

• Wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and wave speed

• Wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and acceleration

If speed equals frequency times wavelength, and a sound wave traveling at 20 Hz through water and has a wavelength of 75 m, then what is the wave's speed?

• 2,000 m/s

• 150 m/s

• 95 m/s

• 1,500 m/s

What type of wave can travel through empty space without requiring a medium?

• Electromagnetic Waves

• Seismic Waves

• Mechanical Waves

• Longitudinal Waves

What gets smaller as the energy a wave has decreases?

• Crest

• Amplitude

• Wavelength

• Frequency