Waves_Multiple Choice

Question 1

The shortest time interval in which a wave motion completely repeats itself (i.e., makes one complete vibration or oscillation) is called the

Answer 1

period

Question 2

A transverse wave has an amplitude of 2.4 m. What is the vertical distance, in metres, between the top of a crest and the bottom of a trough

Answer 2

4.8

Question 3

12. An object completes 240 cycles in 15 s. What is its frequency, in hertz?

Answer 3

16Hz

Question 4

In a longitudinal wave,

Answer 4

The particles move parallel to the direction of the wave motion.

Question 5

In an ideal wave, which of the following wave properties does not change as it travels along the same medium?
a. amplitude d. period
b. wavelength e. all of the above
c. frequency

Answer 5

all of the above

Question 6

In a crest, the particles

Answer 6

are displaced at right angles to the rest position in a positive direction

Question 7

As a wave travels down a spring, the amplitude slowly decreases. Why does this occur?

Answer 7

Some energy is lost due to friction as the particles in the spring rub against each other.

Question 8

Consider the following wave properties:
(i) speed
(ii) frequency
(iii) wavelength
(iv) period

Which of the above quantities does not change as a wave changes mediums?

Answer 8

(ii) and (iv) only

Question 9

A water wave travels from shallow water to deep water and speeds up. Which of the following statements best describes the wave’s behaviour as it changes mediums?

Answer 9

The wavelength is shorter in the shallow water and longer in the deeper water.

Question 10

The universal wave equation, , applies to which of the following wave types?
a. water d. light
b. sound e. all of the above
c. radio waves

Answer 10

all of the above

Question 11

The wavelength cannot be measured or calculated using
a. speed divided by frequency
d. twice the length of one crest
b. frequency times period
e. speed times period
c. the total length of one crest and trough

Answer 11

frequency times period

Question 12

The speed of a wave can be measured in
a. centimeters
d. cycles per second
b. meters
e. hertz per second
c. centimeters per second

Answer 12

c. centimeters per second

Question 13

A sound wave with a frequency of 256 Hz, travelling at 340 m/s has a wavelength of

Answer 13

1.33 m

Question 14

An earthquake creates a seismic wave that travels at 3500 m/s with a wavelength of 1750 m. Find the frequency of the seismic wave.

Answer 14

2.0 Hz

Question 15

A 512-Hz tuning fork produces a sound wave with a wavelength of 68 cm. With what speed does the sound wave travel?

Answer 15

c. 350 m/s

Question 16

When you look very closely at a clear pane of glass, you can see a faint reflection of yourself even though the pane is transparent. Why does this occur?

Answer 16

c. Some of the light waves are partially reflected when they strike the glass surface.

Question 17

Waves can bend as they travel through small openings or past corners. This is due to the property called

Answer 17

diffraction

Question 18

Which of the following describes a wave’s behaviour due to diffraction?
a. The amount of diffraction is independent of wavelength.
b. Faster waves diffract more than slower waves.
c. Larger openings cause more diffraction to occur.
d. Shorter wavelengths diffract less than longer wavelengths.
e. Higher frequencies diffract more than lower frequencies if their speeds are the same.

Answer 18

d. Shorter wavelengths diffract less than longer wavelengths.

Question 19

Which of the following describes a wave’s behaviour due to refraction?
a. The amount of refraction is independent of wavelength.
b. Faster waves refract more than slower waves.
c. Shorter wavelengths refract more than longer wavelengths.
d. All waves of the same speed refract the same amount.
e. Higher frequencies refract less than lower frequencies if their speeds are the same.

Answer 19

Shorter wavelengths refract more than longer wavelengths.

Question 20

During complete destructive interference, which of the following could be produced?
a. supercrest d. antinode
b. supernode e. resonance
c. node

Answer 20

c. node

Question 21

Which of the following situations is a result of resonance?
a. Hydro wires “hum” as a mild breeze blows over them.
b. A child pushes herself on a swing by moving her legs back and forth appropriately.
c. Windows in your house rattle as a large truck drives by.
d. Buildings begin to sway when an earthquake occurs.
e. all of the above

Answer 21

e. all of the above

Question 22

A standing wave with three loops is generated in a string. If the wavelength is 10 cm, how far apart are the nodes created?

Answer 22

5.0 cm

Question 23

A three-loop standing wave is generated in a string by attaching one end to a wall and letting the transmitted and reflected waves interfere. If the wavelength of the wave is 15 cm, how far from the wall is the first antinode created?

Answer 23

a. 3.75 cm

Question 24

occurs when an object vibrates perpendicularly to its axis

Answer 24

transverse vibration

Question 25

point of destructive interference that remains at rest

Answer 25

nodal point

Question 26

region in a longitudinal wave where particles are farther apart than normal

Answer 26

f. rarefaction

Question 28

bending of a wave due to changing speeds (or mediums)

Answer 28

refraction

Question 29

occurs when an object twists around its axis

Answer 29

torsional vibration

Question 30

one complete vibration, oscillation, or back and forth motion

Answer 30

cycle

Question 31

reflection from a rigid end in which the pulse is inverted:

Answer 31

fixed-end reflection

Question 32

interference that results when crest meets crest

Answer 32

supercrest

Question 33

45. State the type of vibration that occurs in each of the following: (a) the spring in a pogo stick as a child bounces up and down on it (b) a tree swaying in the wind (c) the rotating masses on an anniversary clock

Answer 33

(a) longitudinal (b) transverse (c) torsional

Question 33

Often, when you look very closely at a clear pane of glass, you can see a faint reflection of yourself even though the glass is transparent. Explain why this occurs.

Answer 33

As the light waves strike the glass surface, their speed changes since there is a change in medium. This causes partial reflection of the light waves from the surface of the glass. It is this partial reflection that you can see. Since very little of the light is reflected, the image seen is very faint.

Question 34

When playing a stereo, there are certain sounds that can cause windows to rattle. Explain why this occurs.

Answer 34

The stereo is creating sound waves that have the same natural frequency as the windows in the car. This causes sympathetic vibrations to start in the windows and makes them rattle. This effect is due to resonance.

Question 35

A water wave travels from shallow water (slower medium) into deeper water (faster medium). What happens to the wavelength and frequency of the water wave?

Answer 35

The wavelength increases (according to the wave equation, v  ). The frequency is unchanged, as frequency is determined only by the source.

Question 36

Describe two ways in which the amount of diffraction occurring in a wave can be increased.

Answer 36

Diffraction can be increased by increasing the wavelength or decreasing the size of the opening.

Question 37

Describe how you could use the principle of resonance to remove a metal stake that is buried deeply into the ground.

Answer 37

By rocking the metal stake back and forth at the proper frequency and beginning with small amplitudes, the stake will begin to vibrate. Although the initial vibrations will be quite small, they will slowly start to increase in amplitude. Repeatedly applying the force at the proper time will cause the vibrations to eventually become large enough to move enough soil out of the way and allow the stake to be pulled easily out of the ground.

Question 38

Which wave property allows the formation of standing waves to occur? Explain your answer.

Answer 38

The wave property of interference allows standing waves patterns to form. Constructive interference allows the standing wave to form antinodes (or loops), while destructive interference allows the standing wave to form nodes. The interfering waves must have identical frequencies and wavelengths in order to produce standing waves.