wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Properties of Waves

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which best describes a wave?

a)

disturbance that carries energy

b)

disturbance that carries a hippopotamus

c)

disturbance that carries an elephant

2.

What are two parts of a transverse wave?

a)

PB and jelly

b)

Macaroni and cheese

c)

Crest and trough

3.

What are two parts of a longitudinal wave?

a)

contract and reflect

b)

compression and refraction

c)

coconut and racoon

4.

What is amplitude?

a)

total distance the wave moves from its resting position

b)

total distance the wave moves when it's on the dance floor

c)

total distance the wave moves when it's doing homework

5.

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength

a)

The lower the frequency, the longer the wavelength

b)

The lower the frequency, the funnier the wavelength

c)

The lower the frequency, the more slimey the wavelength

6.

What is the relationship between frequency and the amount of energy in a wave?

a)

Waves with higher frequency are CRAZY CATS

b)

Waves with higher frequency are super lazy (like a grumpy turtle)

c)

Waves with higher frequency have more energy!

7.

Which unit is used to measure frequency?

a)

Happy

b)

Hertz

c)

Hotdog

8.

What is wavelength?

a)

distance between a point on a wave and the exact same point on the next wave (like crest to crest)

b)

distance from Mrs. O'Connor's house in Australia to her house in Fresno

c)

Wavelength??? I don't know!!! Argh help meeeeee!!

9.

How do waves travel?

a)

By plane

b)

By car

c)

outward from a source

d)

inward from a source

10.

Light waves are different to sound waves because....

a)

light waves like dogs as pets and sound waves like cats as pets

b)

light waves do NOT need a medium, and sound waves DO need a medium

c)

light waves like chocolate ice-cream and sound waves prefer strawberry ice-cream

11.

What are electromagnetic waves?

a)

Waves that DO NOT need a medium to travel

b)

Waves that have been electrocuted

12.

What are mechanical waves?

a)

Waves that MUST HAVE a medium to travel

b)

Waves that need a mechanic to move because they've broken down

13.

Sound waves are...

a)

transverse waves

b)

longitudinal waves

c)

Pssssst.... they're longitudinal waves!!! :)

14.

How can the height of a wave be correctly measured?

a)

The wave stands up against a wall so it's mum can draw a line

b)

use a tape measure!

c)

crest to trough

15.

How can wavelength be correctly measured?

a)

with a ruler

b)

crest to crest

c)

crest to pizza crust

16.

What is frequency?

a)

the number of vibrations produced in a certain amount of time

b)

a type of zebra

c)

how often you go to the dentist

17.

What produces sound?

a)

Singing at the top of your lungs - la la la LAAAAAAAAA

b)

vibrations

18.

Which best describes the motion of water molecules in the ocean when the wave goes by?

a)

circular

b)

square

c)

triangle

19.

Which wave is ELECTROMAGNETIC (does NOT need a medium to travel)

a)

an electric eel wave

b)

an electric fence wave

c)

a light wave

20.

A beach ball is floating on the top of the water far out to sea. Which of the following best describes the motion of the beach ball?

a)

It will bob up and down

b)

It will be doing the hokey pokey

c)

It will be doing the dab

21.

Which best describes tsunami waves?

a)

small height and long wavelength

b)

small height and small wavelength

c)

super gigantic waves that go over a WHOLE COUNTRY!

22.

What causes tsunamis?

a)

earthquakes

b)

not brushing your teeth

c)

not washing your hands after using the restroom

23.

When waves cause an object to move, there is an increase in the object's.......

a)

age

b)

superpowers

c)

kinetic energy

24.

What can we use to find the speed of a wave?

a)

biscuits and gravy

b)

frequency and wavelength

25.

What causes ocean waves to steepen as they get closer to the shore?

a)

They get fed up with being waves and want to break apart

b)

The waves touch land on the bottom of the shallow water

26.

What causes large waves during a hurricane?

a)

strong winds

b)

clouds

c)

rain

27.

What causes most waves in the ocean?

a)

wind

b)

clouds

c)

earthquakes

28.

What happens when ocean waves reach the shore?

a)

They get smaller and disappear

b)

They get steeper and eventually break

c)

They do ballet dancing to celebrate reaching the shore

29.

A wave has a frequency of 2Hz and a wavelength of 4m. What is the speed of the wave? (Speed = Frequency x Wavelength)

a)

8 m/s

b)

800 m/s

c)

8,000 m/s

30.

SPEED = Frequency x _________________

a)

Watermelon

b)

Wavelength

c)

Wellington