What are waves? (Part 2)

What type of wave vibrates the medium parallel to the forward motion of the wave?

• Longitudinal wave

• Transverse wave

• Electromagnetic wave

• Surface wave

What is the term for the area where parts of the medium spread apart in a longitudinal wave?

• Rarefaction

• Compression

• Amplitude

• Frequency

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

• Sound wave traveling through gases

• Light wave traveling through vacuum

• Water wave on the surface

• Electromagnetic wave

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

What happens in the compression area of a longitudinal wave?

• Parts of the medium move closer together

• Parts of the medium spread apart

• The wave stops moving

• The wave changes direction

Box (A) shows __________, and box (B) shows __________.

• compression; rarefaction

• crest; trough

• trough; crest

• rarefaction; compression

On a ​ (a)   wave, an area where the medium is spread far apart is called a ​ (b)   . An area where the medium is packed close together is called a ​ (c)   . Crests and troughs only occur in ​ (d)   waves.

• rarefaction
• compression
• transverse
• longitudinal
• oscillation
• vibration
• reflection

Select the most accurate longitudinal wave diagram.

• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Longitudinal waves vibrate the medium in the ​ (a)   direction, or ​ (b)   to, the motion of the wave energy. The ​ (c)   can move both forwards and backwards.

• same
• medium
• parallel

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Which of these examples is most similar to the motion that occurs in a longitudinal wave?

• a Ferris wheel spinning around its axis

• a child jumping up and down along a hopscotch court

• a train that can move forwards or backwards along a track

• a gymnast performing cartwheels and back handsprings

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

These kindergarteners are playing with a parachute in gym class. As the children shake the parachute, it ripples toward the center, moving up and down as the energy moves forward. One child exclaims, "Our parachute is making waves just like our voices!"

Is the child correct or incorrect in saying that the parachute waves are just like sound waves? Why or why not?

Your answer must be at least 2 sentences in length.

Answer explanation

The child is not correct. The parachute is making transverse waves because it is moving perpendicular to the energy, which is moving forward. Sound waves traveling through the air are longitudinal waves because they move parallel to the energy, which is moving forward.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2