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Intro to Waves quiz #2

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  • What creates a sound (mechanical) wave?
    A sound wave is created by a vibrating object causing compressions and rarefactions in a medium.
  • How are sound waves and light waves alike?
    Both sound and light waves carry energy and can be described by amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed.
  • Through which can a mechanical wave travel?
    A mechanical wave can travel through solids, liquids, or gases.
  • Which of these is a longitudinal wave?
    A sound wave is an example of a longitudinal wave.
  • What type of wave is produced when you move one end of a horizontal spring up and down?
    Moving one end of a horizontal spring up and down produces a transverse wave.
  • What kind of wave is able to travel through both matter and empty space?
    Electromagnetic waves can travel through both matter and empty space.
  • Which type of wave can carry both electromagnetic and mechanical energy?
    Waves as a general concept can carry either electromagnetic or mechanical energy, depending on the type.
  • If the height of a water wave is doubled, what happens to its amplitude?
    If the height of a water wave is doubled, its amplitude is also doubled.
  • Sound is what kind of wave?
    Sound is a longitudinal mechanical wave.
  • What is traveling with a wave in the ocean?
    Energy is traveling with a wave in the ocean.
  • Sound is an example of what type of wave?
    Sound is an example of a mechanical longitudinal wave.
  • Which type of wave does not require a medium in which to travel?
    Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium to travel.
  • Which waves are capable of propagating without a medium?
    Electromagnetic waves are capable of propagating without a medium.
  • What kind of waves are water waves?
    Water waves are surface waves with both transverse and longitudinal components.
  • Which type of wave has a wave perpendicular to the disturbance?
    A transverse wave has oscillations perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
  • Which type of earthquake wave moves the fastest?
    Primary waves (P-waves), which are longitudinal, move the fastest during an earthquake.
  • How are transverse and longitudinal waves similar?
    Both transverse and longitudinal waves carry energy and can be described by amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed.
  • How do mechanical and electromagnetic waves differ?
    Mechanical waves require a medium to travel, while electromagnetic waves do not.
  • What travels on a wave?
    Energy travels on a wave.
  • What is not a property of a wave?
    Mass is not a property of a wave; key properties include amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period, and speed.
  • Is sound a longitudinal or transverse wave?
    Sound is a longitudinal wave.
  • What question can determine whether a wave is a mechanical wave or an electromagnetic wave?
    Does the wave require a medium to travel? If yes, it is a mechanical wave; if no, it is an electromagnetic wave.
  • How are longitudinal and transverse waves alike?
    Both types of waves carry energy and can be described by amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed.
  • What do P-waves do when they hit the Earth's liquid interior layer?
    P-waves (longitudinal waves) can travel through both solids and liquids, so they continue to propagate through the Earth's liquid interior.
  • Which wave requires a physical medium through which to travel?
    A mechanical wave requires a physical medium to travel.
  • Which type of wave has the longest wavelength?
    Among seismic waves, surface waves can have the longest wavelengths; in general, wavelength depends on the wave type and its frequency.
  • A certain wave has compressions and rarefactions. How should this wave be classified?
    A wave with compressions and rarefactions is a longitudinal wave.
  • What materials will you need to create a wave?
    To create a mechanical wave, you need a medium such as a string, spring, water, or air.
  • What can change the frequency of a wave?
    The frequency of a wave can be changed by altering the source of the oscillation.
  • What is the period of a wave if 20 crests pass an observer in 4 seconds?
    The period T = total time / number of cycles = 4 seconds / 20 = 0.2 seconds.
  • Why will mechanical waves not travel in a vacuum?
    Mechanical waves require a medium to transmit energy, so they cannot travel in a vacuum.
  • Which type of wave does not require a medium in which to travel: sound, water, light, or mechanical?
    Light (an electromagnetic wave) does not require a medium to travel.
  • What is an example of a mechanical wave?
    A wave on a string is an example of a mechanical wave.
  • Which waves can travel only through solids?
    Some types of mechanical waves, such as S-waves (secondary seismic waves), can travel only through solids.
  • What causes a disturbance that results in a wave?
    A disturbance that results in a wave is caused by a source of oscillation or vibration.
  • What type of wave is a microwave: heat, longitudinal, sound, or transverse?
    A microwave is a type of electromagnetic wave, which is transverse.
  • Which phrases describe S-waves?
    S-waves are transverse seismic waves that move the ground perpendicular to the direction of propagation and can only travel through solids.
  • When earthquakes produce vibrations called waves, what type of waves are produced?
    Earthquakes produce both longitudinal (P-waves) and transverse (S-waves) as well as surface waves.
  • What is the main difference between a longitudinal wave and a transverse wave?
    In a longitudinal wave, oscillations are parallel to propagation; in a transverse wave, oscillations are perpendicular to propagation.
  • Which type of wave has a wave perpendicular to the disturbance?
    A transverse wave has oscillations perpendicular to the direction of propagation.