Properties of Sound Quiz

Why can't sound be heard in outer space?

• Sound waves are incapable of traveling through the vacuum of space due to the absence of a medium such as air.

• The intensity of sound waves is too low in space for detection by human ears.

• Sound waves in space travel at speeds that are slower than the speed of light, making them inaudible.

• The lack of gravitational forces in space prevents sound waves from propagating effectively.

Answer explanation

Sound cannot be heard in outer space because it requires a medium, like air, to travel through. In the vacuum of space, there is no air, so sound waves cannot propagate.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A student hears noises from a classroom separated by a wall. Why does the student hear the noises?

• Sound waves are transmitted through the wall.

• Sound waves are absorbed by the wall.

• Sound waves are diffracted by the wall.

• Sound waves are created by the wall.

Answer explanation

The student hears noises because sound waves are transmitted through the wall. Unlike absorption or diffraction, transmission allows sound to pass through materials, enabling the student to hear the sounds from the classroom.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Which wall design is best to avoid echoes in a concert hall?

• They should use bumpy walls for all four sides.

• They should use bumpy walls for only one side.

• They should use smooth walls for all four sides.

• They should use smooth walls for only one side.

Answer explanation

Bumpy walls scatter sound waves, reducing echoes effectively. Using bumpy walls on all four sides ensures that sound is diffused throughout the concert hall, creating a better acoustic environment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What causes an echo?

• the accumulation of the sound waves

• the diffraction of the sound waves

• the refraction of the sound waves

• the reflection of the sound waves

Answer explanation

An echo is caused by the reflection of sound waves off surfaces, allowing us to hear the sound again after a delay. This is why the correct answer is 'the reflection of the sound waves'.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The speed of a sound wave depends on the medium. Which transition between two media results in the greatest increase in speed?

• the air into the glass

• the glass into the aluminum

• aluminum into the water

• water into the iron

Answer explanation

Sound travels fastest in solids, followed by liquids, and slowest in gases. Transitioning from air (gas) to glass (solid) results in a significant speed increase, making 'the air into the glass' the correct choice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Which type of medium does sound travel through the fastest?

• Sound travels fastest through gases because the molecules are more spread out, allowing the sound to travel faster.

• Sound travels fastest through gases because gases have fewer molecules, allowing sound to travel more freely.

• Sound travels fastest through solids because molecules in solids have more energy, allowing the sound to travel faster.

• Sound travels fastest through solids because molecules in solids are closely packed together, allowing sound waves to transmit vibrations more efficiently.

Answer explanation

Sound travels fastest through solids because the closely packed molecules allow sound waves to transmit vibrations more efficiently, unlike gases where molecules are more spread out.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

In which material will a sound wave travel at the greatest speed based on the densities shown?

• Material W

• Material X

• Material Y

• Material Z

Answer explanation

Sound travels fastest in materials with lower density and higher elasticity. Material Z, having the highest elasticity among the options, allows sound waves to propagate more quickly than in Materials W, X, or Y.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Which of the following has a higher pitch than the one shown?

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• 
• 

Answer explanation

Wave D has a more waves; greater frequency than the other waves and frequency determines the pitch. The more waves in a period of time, the greater the frequency, so higher the pitch.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

A student is modeling two different sound waves. The student determines that sound wave 2 has only half the amplitude of sound wave 1. Which model shows this difference in amplitude and describes how the energy of each wave is affected by this difference?

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• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

High amplitude means a sound is

• loud

• soft

• moderate

Answer explanation

High amplitude indicates a greater intensity of sound waves, which corresponds to a louder sound. Therefore, high amplitude means a sound is loud.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1