Waves Exam Review

A diagram shows air particles moving back and forth parallel to the wave’s direction. What does this show about the wave?

• It’s a transverse wave

• It’s a light wave

• It’s a longitudinal wave

• It’s not a wave at all

A student says, “Sound travels because air particles move from the source to the ear.” Based on your knowledge of sound waves, how would you evaluate this claim?

• Accurate, because air molecules move in a direct straight line

• Inaccurate, because energy—not air particles—travels through vibrations

• Accurate, but only in solids

• Inaccurate, because sound uses electromagnetic radiation

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

You notice sound moves faster in metal (a solid) than in air (a gas). What does this tell you about sound and the media they travel in?

• Sound always moves slowly in air

• Sound moves faster in materials with more densely packed particles

• Sound is louder in metal

• Sound waves change direction in metal

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

When a person speaks, air particles vibrate. How do these vibrations reach a listener’s ear?

• Light particles carry sound

• Energy travels in a straight line

• Air particles vibrate and bump into nearby particles, passing energy

• The mouth emits solid waves

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

A bell rings inside a vacuum chamber and you hear nothing. What does this experiment show?

• Sound travels without a medium

• Sound needs particles to move

• Sound travels faster in a vacuum

• The bell doesn’t work

You compare two waves. One has taller crests but the same spacing between waves. What is different about how they sound?

• The louder one has more pitch

• The one with taller crests is louder

• The one with smaller crests is louder

• They sound the same

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Two people sing the same pitch. One sounds louder. What wave property explains the difference?

• Wavelength

• Amplitude

• Frequency

• Direction

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

A diagram shows air particles packed tightly and close together. What does this tell you?

• The sound is quiet and low-pitched

• The sound is loud and high-pitched

• The sound is soft and high-pitched

• The sound is loud and low-pitched

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

A student says, “High pitch means loud sound.” What would you say?

• That’s right—pitch and loudness are the same

• That’s wrong—pitch is about frequency, not volume

• High pitch is always louder

• Low pitch is always quieter

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

A student says, “Shorter waves are always louder.” What’s wrong with this?

• They’re mixes up amplitude and wavelength

• Short waves are louder

• Amplitude causes short waves

• Shorter waves always carry more energy

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1