Waves: Sound And Light

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| By Mak071159
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Mak071159
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Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 414
Questions: 18 | Attempts: 414

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Speed Of Light Quizzes & Trivia

Answer each question which follows with the correct choice.


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    Waves that need a medium in which to travel are called _________.

    • A.

      Longitudinal waves

    • B.

      Transverse waves

    • C.

      Mechanical waves

    • D.

      All of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Longitudinal waves
    Explanation
    Longitudinal waves are waves that require a medium to travel through. These waves move in the same direction as the disturbance, causing the particles in the medium to move parallel to the direction of the wave. Examples of longitudinal waves include sound waves and seismic waves. Transverse waves, on the other hand, move perpendicular to the disturbance and do not require a medium to travel through. Mechanical waves refer to waves that require a medium, so the correct answer is all of the above, as all three options describe waves that require a medium to travel.

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  • 2. 

    Most waves are caused by ______.

    • A.

      Velocity

    • B.

      Amplitude

    • C.

      A vibration

    • D.

      Earthquakes

    Correct Answer
    C. A vibration
    Explanation
    Most waves are caused by a vibration. Waves are disturbances that transfer energy from one place to another without transferring matter. These vibrations can occur in various forms, such as the movement of particles in a medium or the oscillation of an electromagnetic field. Whether it is sound waves, water waves, or light waves, they all originate from some form of vibration. Therefore, a vibration is the primary cause of most waves.

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  • 3. 

    For which type of waves do particles in the medicum vibrate perpendicular to the direction in which the waves are traveling?

    • A.

      Transverse waves

    • B.

      Longitudinal waves

    • C.

      P waves

    • D.

      None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Transverse waves
    Explanation
    Transverse waves are a type of wave where particles in the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction in which the waves are traveling. In these waves, the motion of the particles is perpendicular to the motion of the wave. Longitudinal waves, on the other hand, are waves where particles vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave. P waves, also known as primary waves, are a type of longitudinal seismic wave. Therefore, the correct answer is transverse waves.

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  • 4. 

    A sound wave is an example of ______.

    • A.

      An electromagnetic wave

    • B.

      A transverse wave

    • C.

      A longitudinal wave

    • D.

      A surface wave

    Correct Answer
    C. A longitudinal wave
    Explanation
    A sound wave is an example of a longitudinal wave because it consists of compressions and rarefactions that travel in the same direction as the wave. In a longitudinal wave, the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave. This can be observed in sound waves, where the particles of air or any other medium vibrate back and forth in the same direction as the sound wave propagates.

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  • 5. 

    In an ocean wave, the molecules of water ________.

    • A.

      Move perpendicularly to the direction of wave travel

    • B.

      Move parallel to the direction of the wave travel

    • C.

      Move in circles

    • D.

      Don't move at all

    Correct Answer
    D. Don't move at all
    Explanation
    In an ocean wave, the molecules of water don't move at all. This is because waves in the ocean are created by the transfer of energy through the water, rather than the physical movement of water molecules. As a wave passes through, the water molecules only move up and down in a circular motion, but they do not actually travel in any particular direction.

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  • 6. 

    Half the vertical distance between the crest and trough of a wave is called the ______.

    • A.

      Frequency

    • B.

      Crest

    • C.

      Wavelength

    • D.

      Amplitude

    Correct Answer
    D. Amplitude
    Explanation
    The amplitude of a wave refers to half the vertical distance between the crest and trough of the wave. It represents the maximum displacement or distance from the equilibrium position of a wave. In other words, it measures the intensity or strength of the wave. The greater the amplitude, the more energy the wave carries.

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  • 7. 

    The number of waves passing a given point each second is called the ______.

    • A.

      Frequency

    • B.

      Wave speed

    • C.

      Wavelength

    • D.

      Amplitude

    Correct Answer
    A. Frequency
    Explanation
    Frequency is the correct answer because it refers to the number of waves passing a given point each second. It is a measure of how often a wave oscillates or repeats within a specific time period. This term is commonly used in physics and is an important concept in understanding wave behavior and properties.

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  • 8. 

    The Doppler effect of a passing siren results from an apparent change in _______.

    • A.

      Loudness

    • B.

      Wave speed

    • C.

      Frequency

    • D.

      Interference

    Correct Answer
    C. Frequency
    Explanation
    The Doppler effect of a passing siren results from an apparent change in frequency. As the siren approaches, the sound waves are compressed, causing an increase in the frequency and a higher pitch. Conversely, as the siren moves away, the sound waves are stretched, resulting in a decrease in frequency and a lower pitch. This phenomenon is observed in various situations, such as the sound of a passing vehicle or the change in pitch of a train whistle as it approaches and then moves away.

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  • 9. 

    The combining of waves as they meet is known as _______.

    • A.

      A crest

    • B.

      Noise

    • C.

      Interference

    • D.

      The Doppler effect

    Correct Answer
    C. Interference
    Explanation
    When waves meet, they can combine and interact with each other. This phenomenon is known as interference. Interference can result in the reinforcement or cancellation of waves, depending on their phase relationship. It occurs when waves have the same frequency and meet at the same point in space. This can happen with any type of wave, including sound waves, water waves, or light waves. Interference is an important concept in physics and is used to explain various phenomena, such as the formation of patterns in double-slit experiments or the interference of sound waves in noise-canceling headphones.

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  • 10. 

    Waves bend when they pass through an opening.  This is called ________.

    • A.

      Interference

    • B.

      Diffraction

    • C.

      Refraction

    • D.

      The Doppler effect

    Correct Answer
    B. Diffraction
    Explanation
    Diffraction is the correct answer because it refers to the bending or spreading out of waves as they pass through an opening or around an obstacle. This phenomenon occurs when waves encounter an obstruction that is comparable in size to the wavelength of the wave. As the waves pass through the opening, they spread out and change direction, resulting in the bending or diffraction of the waves.

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  • 11. 

    The speed of sound depends on ______.

    • A.

      The temperature of the medium

    • B.

      The density of the medium

    • C.

      How well the particles of the medium transfer energy

    • D.

      All of the above

    Correct Answer
    D. All of the above
    Explanation
    The speed of sound depends on the temperature of the medium because as temperature increases, the particles in the medium move faster, leading to an increase in the speed of sound. The speed of sound also depends on the density of the medium because denser mediums have particles that are closer together, allowing sound waves to travel faster. Additionally, the speed of sound is influenced by how well the particles of the medium transfer energy, as this affects the efficiency of sound wave propagation. Therefore, all of the given factors - temperature, density, and energy transfer - contribute to determining the speed of sound.

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  • 12. 

    A sonar device can use the echoes of ultrasound underwater to find the ________.

    • A.

      Speed of sound

    • B.

      Depth of the water

    • C.

      Temperature of the water

    • D.

      Height of waves on the surface

    Correct Answer
    B. Depth of the water
    Explanation
    A sonar device uses ultrasound echoes to determine the depth of the water. By sending out sound waves and measuring the time it takes for the echoes to return, the sonar device can calculate the distance to the bottom of the water body. This information helps in navigation, mapping underwater terrain, and locating objects or obstacles beneath the surface.

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  • 13. 

    During a thunderstorm, you see lightning before you hear thunder because ________.

    • A.

      The thunder occurs after the lightning

    • B.

      The thunder is farther away than the lightning

    • C.

      Sound travels faster than light

    • D.

      Light travels faster than sound

    Correct Answer
    D. Light travels faster than sound
    Explanation
    Light travels faster than sound, so when a thunderstorm occurs, the lightning is seen before the thunder is heard. The speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second, while the speed of sound is approximately 343 meters per second. Therefore, the light from the lightning reaches our eyes almost instantaneously, while the sound takes some time to travel through the air and reach our ears. This is why we perceive the lightning first and then hear the thunder later.

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  • 14. 

    The speed of light ________.

    • A.

      Depends on the medium

    • B.

      Is fastest in a vacuum

    • C.

      Is the fastest speed in the universe

    • D.

      All of the above

    Correct Answer
    D. All of the above
    Explanation
    The speed of light depends on the medium through which it is traveling. It is fastest in a vacuum, where it travels at approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. This speed is also considered to be the fastest speed in the universe. Therefore, all of the given options are correct statements about the speed of light.

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  • 15. 

    Light can be modeled as ________.

    • A.

      Electromagnetic waves

    • B.

      A stream of particles called photons

    • C.

      Rays that travel in straight lines

    • D.

      All of the above

    Correct Answer
    D. All of the above
    Explanation
    Light can be modeled as electromagnetic waves, a stream of particles called photons, and rays that travel in straight lines. This is because light exhibits properties of both waves and particles. The wave model describes light as an electromagnetic wave, which can be characterized by its wavelength and frequency. The particle model describes light as a stream of discrete particles called photons, which carry energy and momentum. Additionally, light can also be represented as rays that travel in straight lines, which is useful for understanding phenomena such as reflection and refraction. Therefore, all of the given options accurately represent different aspects of light.

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  • 16. 

    The energy of light is proportional to ________.

    • A.

      Amplitude

    • B.

      Wavelength

    • C.

      Frequency

    • D.

      The speed of light

    Correct Answer
    C. Frequency
    Explanation
    The energy of light is proportional to its frequency. This means that as the frequency of light increases, so does its energy. Frequency refers to the number of wave cycles that pass through a point in a given amount of time. Higher frequency light waves have more energy, while lower frequency light waves have less energy. Therefore, the correct answer is frequency.

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  • 17. 

    A flat mirror forms an image that is ______.

    • A.

      Smaller than the object

    • B.

      Larger than the object

    • C.

      Virtual

    • D.

      Real

    Correct Answer
    C. Virtual
    Explanation
    A flat mirror forms a virtual image. This means that the image appears to be behind the mirror and cannot be projected onto a screen. The image formed by a flat mirror is the same size as the object being reflected, so it is neither larger nor smaller.

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  • 18. 

    Which of the following wavelengths of visible light bends the most when passing through a prism?

    • A.

      Red

    • B.

      Yellow

    • C.

      Green

    • D.

      Blue

    Correct Answer
    D. Blue
    Explanation
    The correct answer is blue. When visible light passes through a prism, it undergoes refraction, which causes the different colors of light to bend at different angles. This is because each color of light has a different wavelength, and shorter wavelengths (such as blue light) refract more than longer wavelengths (such as red light). Therefore, blue light bends the most when passing through a prism.

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Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Mar 22, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Nov 30, 2010
    Quiz Created by
    Mak071159
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