Sound Test

Sound is a vibration that travels through a medium as a ___________ wave. 

• compressional / longitudinal

• electromagnetic 

• standing 

• transverse

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

John and Melissa are trying to determine if a mystery wave is electromagnetic wave or mechanical wave based on the characteristics. The teacher will allow them to ask one question about the mystery wave. What is a question they could ask the teacher to determine if the wave is electromagnetic or mechanical? 

• What is the wavelength of the wave?

• Can the wave travel through the vacuum of space where there is not matter? 

• Can you see the wave? 

• What is the amplitude of the wave? 

   

Josh observed a bolt of lightning during a thunderstorm.  It took more than 15 seconds for Josh to hear the sound of thunder.  Why did Josh see the lightning strike before he heard the thunder? 

• Thunder always takes 15 seconds to travel through the air after lighting strikes. 

• Light waves from the lightning and sound waves from the thunder moved through different mediums.  

• Light waves are electromagnetic waves that travel much faster than mechanical waves, such as the sound wave he heard as thunder. 

• The conditions in the air at the time allowed light waves to move faster than the sound waves he hears as thunder. 

   

The graph shows the speeds of three waves in air and water. Which wave(s) are electromagnetic waves?  

• II only

• I, II, and III

• I and II only

• I and III only

This bar graph shows the speeds of a wave in air and water. How would the wave speeds change if the temperature of the air and water were both increased equally? 

• Neither would increase in speed. 

• Both waves would increase in speed.

• Only the wave in air would increase in speed. 

• Only the wave in water would increase in speed. 

The table shows the speed of sound waves in various media.  This table can be used as evidence for which of the following statements? 

• Claim: Carbon dioxide will allow energy to transfer the fastest.  

  Reasoning: Sound travels fastest through a gas.  

• Claim: Water is the best substance to transfer all sound waves.  

  Reasoning: Sound travels fastest through liquids. . 

• Claim: Steel is more dense than copper. 

  Reasoning: Sound can travel faster through steel because the particles are closer together allowing the energy to be transferred faster.  

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

A sound wave travels through water at a speed of 1,500 m/s.  Which of the following most likely describes the speed of that sound wave through air? 

• 1,500 m/s 

• Less than 1,500 m/s 

• Greater than 1,500 m/s 

• There isn’t enough information to answer this question. 

   

Suppose a mechanical wave is traveling through medium A.  When the wave enters medium B it speeds up.  Which of the following statements can be true about medium A and medium B? 

• Medium A is a solid and medium B is a gas. 

• Medium A is a liquid and medium B is a solid. 

• Medium A is a gas and medium B is a vacuum. 

• Medium A is a vacuum and medium B is a liquid. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Waves A, B, and C show three different sound waves. Look carefully at the three waves.  The waves have different frequencies but the same amplitude.  Which statement below is true?   

• Wave A had the highest pitch. 

• Wave B had the highest pitch. 

• Wave C had the highest pitch. 

• They all have the same pitch. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

The same student is now listening to sound with different amplitudes. These pictures show sounds with different amplitudes, but with the same frequency.  Which statement below is true? 

• Wave D has the loudest volume.

• Wave E has the loudest volume. 

• Wave F has the loudest volume. 

• They all have the same volume. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1