19. PS.6b - Wave Mediums

What is a mechanical wave?

• A wave that can travel through a vacuum

• A wave that requires a medium to transfer energy

• A wave that does not require a medium

• A wave that travels at the speed of light

Tags

VA.PS.6.b

Which of the following is an example of a mechanical wave?

• Light wave

• Sound wave

• Radio wave

• X-ray

Tags

VA.PS.6.b

Explain why sound cannot travel through a vacuum.

• Because sound is a mechanical wave and requires a medium to transfer energy

• Because sound is an electromagnetic wave and can only travel through air

• Because sound needs light to travel

• Because sound is too weak to travel through a vacuum

Tags

VA.PS.6.b

Describe the role of a medium in the propagation of mechanical waves.

• A medium amplifies the energy of the wave

• A medium provides the space for the wave to travel

• A medium transfers the energy of the wave from one point to another

• A medium reflects the wave back to its source

Tags

VA.PS.6.b

Which of the following is NOT a medium through which mechanical waves can travel?

• Air

• Water

• Steel

• Vacuum

Tags

VA.PS.6.b

How does the speed of sound change when it travels from air to water?

• It decreases

• It remains the same

• It increases

• It stops

Tags

VA.PS.6.b

A student observes that a mechanical wave travels faster in steel than in air. Explain why this occurs.

• Steel is denser than air, allowing waves to transfer energy more efficiently

• Steel is less dense than air, allowing waves to travel faster

• Air absorbs more energy than steel

• Waves cannot travel through air

Tags

VA.PS.6.b

What happens to the energy of a mechanical wave as it travels through a medium?

• It increases

• It decreases

• It remains constant

• It fluctuates

Tags

VA.PS.6.b

If a mechanical wave travels from a solid to a liquid, what is likely to happen to its speed?

• It will increase

• It will decrease

• It will remain the same

• It will stop

Tags

VA.PS.6.b

Why do mechanical waves travel faster in solids than in gases?

• Solids have more energy than gases

• Solids have a higher density, allowing for more efficient energy transfer

• Gases absorb more energy than solids

• Solids are warmer than gases

Tags

VA.PS.6.b