Mechanical Waves and Sound Waves

A disturbance in matter that carries energy from one place to another is called ___.

• a mechanical wave
• a jump
• an electromagnetic spectrum
• visible light

The material through which a wave travels is called ___.

• mechanical wave
• the medium
• a vacuum
• the gel

A mechanical wave is created by ___.

• work being done on a medium.
• an energy source causing vibrations to travel through a medium
• an energy source causing fluid to move
• an energy source jumping through molecules within a gas

Which of the following is a characteristic used to classify a mechanical wave?

• the height of its crest
• the depth of its trough
• the way it travels through a medium
• the type of medium through which it travels

The highest point of a wave above the rest position is the ___ and the lowest point below the rest position is the ___. 

• crest, trough
• trough, crest
• crest, amplitude
• amplitude, crest

Which best describes a transverse wave?

• a wave that causes the medium to vibrate at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels. 
• a wave in which the vibration of the medium is parallel to, or in the same direction as, the direction in which the wave travels. 
• a wave in which the vibration of the medium travels along the surface separating two mediums, air and water.
• None of the above. 

Which best describes a longitudinal wave?

• a wave that causes the medium to vibrate at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels. 
• a wave in which the vibration of the medium is parallel to, or in the same direction as, the direction in which the wave travels. 
• a wave in which the vibration of the medium travels along the surface separating two mediums, air and water.
• None of the above. 

Which best describes a surface wave?

• a wave that causes the medium to vibrate at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels. 
• a wave in which the vibration of the medium is parallel to, or in the same direction as, the direction in which the wave travels. 
• a wave in which the vibration of the medium travels along the surface separating two mediums, air and water.
• None of the above. 

When a longitudinal wave carries energy through a spring, the area where the coils of a spring are closer together that they would be in rest position is called ___.

• rarefaction
• compression
• medium
• prism

The time required for one cycle, a complete motion that returns to its starting point, is called the ___.

• period
• frequency
• beat
• pitch