Characteristics of Waves Introduction

Which term describes the highest point of a wave?

• Trough

• Crest

• Medium

• Frequency

A wave is best defined as which of the following?

• A solid object that moves through water

• A repeating disturbance or change that carries energy from one point to another

• A type of sound that only travels through air

• A temporary increase in temperature

In the context of waves, what is a medium?

• The highest part of a wave

• The lowest part of a wave

• A uniform substance through which energy travels

• The number of waves passing a point in one minute

According to the passage, which kind of wave can travel through empty space without a medium?

• Water waves

• Sound waves

• Seismic waves

• Microwaves (electromagnetic waves)

Breaking Waves: The number of ocean waves that pass a given position in one minute is called the wave's _______.

• wavelength

• amplitude

• frequency

• speed

Which statement best defines wave frequency as described in the lesson?

• The height of a crest above the resting position

• The number of disturbances that pass a point in a given amount of time

• The distance between a crest and the next trough

• The total energy carried by a wave

According to the reading, what is wavelength?

• The number of crests per minute

• The distance between successive crests

• The distance from crest to resting position

• The speed at which a wave travels

For the same type of wave, how are frequency and wavelength related?

• Higher frequency corresponds to longer wavelength.

• Higher frequency corresponds to shorter wavelength.

• Frequency and wavelength are unrelated.

• As wavelength increases, energy always decreases.

In the rope diagrams comparing low-frequency and high-frequency waves, which feature changes as frequency increases?

• The wavelength decreases.

• The wavelength increases.

• The amplitude increases.

• The resting position rises.

What is the amplitude of an ocean wave as defined in the text?

• The distance between two successive crests

• The number of waves passing a point each minute

• The distance between the flat, undisturbed water level and the highest point of the wave

• The total width of the wave from crest to crest