Wave Behaviors

During a field trip, Joe visits a hillside and sees the clear image of a small mountain on the smooth surface of the nearby lake. What behavior of light can explain the appearance of the small mountain on the water’s surface?

• absorption

• reflection

• refraction

• transmission

A flashlight shines light on a plane mirror as shown in the diagram.

Which path will the reflected light travel?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

The archer fish is able to see insects above the water's surface. The insect appears to be in a different position than it actually is.

Which property of light is demonstrated?

• absorption

• reflection

• refraction

• scattering

A speaker produces a sound wave that is directed toward an object. The image shows what happens to the sound wave once it touches the object.

What is true about the sound wave?

• The sound wave is reflected by the object, causing an echo.

• The sound wave is refracted by the object, changing the wave’s direction.

• The sound wave is absorbed by the object, increasing the wave’s volume.

• The sound wave is transmitted by the object, reducing the volume of the sound.

• absorption

• diffraction

• reflection

• refraction

• transmission

• absorption

• diffraction

• reflection

• refraction

• transmission

What is a medium?

• something between a small and a large?
• the substance through which a wave can travel
• a pattern of vibration that simulates when a wave is standing still
• the distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave

When a wave passes from one medium to another, the ________ may change.

• speed
• frequency
• wavelength
• speed, frequency, and wavelength

What are the units of frequency?

• m/s
• s
• Hz
• m

This image depicts which of the following wave behaviors?

• Reflection

• Refraction

• Diffraction

• Resonance