WAVES

1. Which type of wave requires a material medium through 10 While playing, two children create a standing wave in a
which to travel? rope, as shown in the diagram below.
(1) sound (3) television
(2) radio (4) x ray

2 The sound wave produced by a trumpet has a frequency

of 440 hertz. What is the distance between successive
compressions in this sound wave as it travels through air?
(1) 1.5 × 10–6 m (3) 1.3 m
(2) 0.75 m (4) 6.8 × 105 m
A third child participates by jumping the rope. What is the
3 The diagram below represents a light ray striking the wavelength of this standing wave?
boundary between air and glass. What would be the angle (1) 2.15 m (3) 6.45 m
between this light ray and its reflected ray? (2) 4.30 m (4) 8.60 m

11 A television remote control is used to direct pulses of

(1) 30.° (3) 120.°
(2) 60.° (4) 150.°
Base your answers to questions 4 and 5 on the information
below.
One end of a rope is attached to a variable speed drill and
the other end is attached to a 5.0-kilogram mass. The rope
is draped over a hook on a wall opposite the drill. When the
drill rotates at a frequency of 20.0 Hz, standing waves of
the same frequency are set up in the rope. The diagram
below shows such a wave pattern.
electromagnetic radiation to a receiver on a television. This
communication from the remote control to the television
illustrates that electromagnetic radiation
(1) is a longitudinal wave
(2) possesses energy inversely proportional to its frequency
(3) diffracts and accelerates in air
(4) transfers energy without transferring mass
12 A wave of constant wavelength diffracts as it passes
through an opening in a barrier. As the size of the opening
is increased, the diffraction effects
(1) decrease
(2) increase
(3) remain the same
A stationary research ship uses sonar to send a 1.18 × 103
Hz sound wave down through the ocean water. The
reflected sound wave from the flat ocean bottom 324
meters below the ship is detected 0.425 second after it was
sent from the ship.

13 Calculate the speed of the sound wave in the ocean

water. [Show all work, including the equation and
substitution with units.]

14 Calculate the wavelength of the sound wave in the ocean

water. [Show all work, including the equation and
4 Determine the wavelength of the waves producing the substitution with units.]
standing wave pattern.
15 Determine the period of the sound wave in the ocean
5 Calculate the speed of the wave in the rope. [Show all water.
work, including the equation and substitution with units.]
16 The time required for a wave to complete one full cycle
6 Compared to the speed of a sound wave in air, the speed is called the wave’s
of a radio wave in air is (1) frequency (3) velocity
(1) less (2) greater (3) the same (2) period (4) wavelength

7 If the amplitude of a wave is increased, the frequency of 17 The diagram below represents a transverse wave. The
the wave will wavelength of the wave is equal to the distance between
(1) decrease (2) increase (3) remain the same points

8 Which unit is equivalent to meters per second?

(1) Hz×s (3) s/Hz
(2) Hz×m (4) m/Hz

9 Which characteristic is the same for every color of light

in a vacuum?
(1) energy (3) speed
(2) frequency (4) period
(1) A and G (3) C and E
(2) B and F (4) D and F
 distance between which two points identifies the amplitude
18 When a light wave enters a new medium and is of the wave?
refracted, there must be a change in the light wave’s
(1) color (3) period
(2) frequency (4) speed

19 Which equation correctly relates the speed v,

wavelength l, and period T of a periodic wave?

(1) A and B (3) A and E

(2) A and C (4) D and E
20 .The diagram below represents a transverse wave
traveling to the right through a medium.
27 What is the period of a 60.-hertz electromagnetic wave
traveling at 3.0 × 108 meters per second?
(1) 1.7 × 10–2 s (3) 6.0 × 101 s
(2) 2.0 × 10–7 s (4) 5.0 × 106 s

28 What is the speed of a radio wave in a vacuum?

(1) 0 m/s (3) 1.13 × 103 m/s
(2) 3.31 × 102 m/s (4) 3.00 × 108 m/s

29 A ringing bell is located in a chamber. When the air is

Point A represents a particle of the medium. removed from the chamber, why can the bell be seen
In which direction will particle A move in the next instant vibrating but not be heard?
of time? (1) Light waves can travel through a vacuum, but sound
(1) up (3) left waves cannot.
(2) down (4) right (2) Sound waves have greater amplitude than light waves.
(3) Light waves travel slower than sound waves.
21 The product of a wave’s frequency and its period is (4) Sound waves have higher frequency than light waves.
(1) one (3) its wavelength
(2) its velocity (4) Planck’s constant 30 As a transverse wave travels through a medium, the
individual particles of the medium move
22 A periodic wave having a frequency of 5.0 hertz and a (1) perpendicular to the direction of wave travel
speed of 10. meters per second has a wavelength of (2) parallel to the direction of wave travel
(1) 0.50 m (3) 5.0 m (3) in circles
(2) 2.0 m (4) 50. m (4) in ellipses
23 An electromagnetic wave traveling through a vacuum 31 A straight glass rod appears to bend when placed in a
has a wavelength of 1.5 × 10–1 meter. What is the period of beaker of water, as shown in the diagram below.
this electromagnetic wave?
(1) 5.0 × 10–10 s (3) 4.5 × 107 s
(2) 1.5 × 10 s
–1
(4) 2.0 × 109 s

24 Which diagram best represents the shape and direction

of a series of wave fronts after they have passed through a
small opening in a barrier?

What is the best explanation for this phenomenon?

(1) The water is warmer than the air.
(2) Light travels faster in water than in air.
(3) Light is reflected at the air-water interface.
(4) Light is refracted as it crosses the air-water interface.

32 The diagram below represents a wave.

25 The diagram below represents a periodic transverse
wave traveling in a uniform medium.
On the diagram draw a wave having both a smaller
amplitude and the same wavelength as the given wave.

Wha
t is the speed of the wave if its frequency is 8.0 hertz?
(1) 48 m/s (3) 3.2 m/s
(2) 16 m/s (4) 1.6 m/s
26 The diagram below represents a transverse wave. The
33 The diagram below represents straight wave fronts
passing from deep water into shallow water, with a change
in speed and direction.
Which phenomenon is illustrated in the diagram?
(1) reflection (3) diffraction
(2) refraction (4) interference
Base your answers to questions 34 and 35 on the
information and diagram below.
A student standing on a dock observes a piece of wood
floating on the water as shown below. As a water wave
passes, the wood moves up and down, rising to the top of a
wave crest every 5.0 seconds.
34 Calculate the frequency of the passing water waves.
[Show all work, including the equation and substitution
with units.]
35 Calculate the speed of the water waves. [Show all work,
including the equation and substitution with units.]
36 The diagram below represents a transverse wave, A,
traveling through a uniform medium. On the diagram, draw
a wave traveling through the same medium as wave A with
twice the amplitude and twice the frequency of wave A.
Base your answers to questions 37 through 38 on the
information below.
A periodic wave traveling in a uniform medium has a
wavelength of 0.080 meter, an amplitude of 0.040 meter,
and a frequency of 5.0 hertz.
37 Determine the period of the wave.
38 On the grid below, starting at point A, sketch a graph of
at least one complete cycle of the wave showing its
amplitude and period.
39 Calculate the speed of the wave. [Show all work,
including the equation and substitution with units.]
40 Which form(s) of energy can be transmitted through a
vacuum?
(1) light, only (2) sound, only
(3) both light and sound (4) neither light nor sound
41 A tuning fork vibrating in air produces sound waves.
These waves are best classified as
(1) transverse, because the air molecules are vibrating
parallel to the direction of wave motion
(2) transverse, because the air molecules are vibrating
perpendicular to the direction of wave motion
(3) longitudinal, because the air molecules are vibrating
parallel to the direction of wave motion
(4) longitudinal, because the air molecules are vibrating
perpendicular to the direction of wave motion.
42 Radio waves and gamma rays traveling in space have
the same
(1) frequency (3) period
(2) wavelength (4) speed
43 The spreading of a wave into the region behind an
obstruction is called
(1) diffraction (3) reflection
(2) absorption (4) refraction
Base your answers to questions 44 and 45 on the
information below.
A transverse wave with an amplitude of 0.20 meter and
wavelength of 3.0 meters travels toward the right in a
medium with a speed of 4.0 meters per second.
44 On the diagram below, place an X at each of two points
that are in phase with each other.
45 Calculate the period of the wave. [Show all work,
including the equation and substitution with units.]
 (3) mechanical waves that require no medium for
46 An electric bell connected to a battery is sealed inside a transmission
large jar. What happens as the air is removed from the jar? (4) mechanical waves that require a medium for
(1) The electric circuit stops working because transmission
electromagnetic radiation cannot travel through a vacuum.
(2) The bell’s pitch decreases because the frequency of the 54 In a vacuum, all electromagnetic waves have the same
sound waves is lower in a vacuum than in air. (1) wavelength (3) speed
(3) The bell’s loudness increases because of decreased air (2) frequency (4) amplitude
resistance.
(4) The bell’s loudness decreases because sound waves 55 A motor is used to produce 4.0 waves each second in a
cannot travel through a vacuum. string. What is the frequency of the waves?
(1) 0.25 Hz (3) 25 Hz
47 As a sound wave passes from water, where the speed is (2) 15 Hz (4) 4.0 Hz
1.49 ×103 meters per second, into air, the wave’s speed
(1) decreases and its frequency remains the same 56 A surfacing whale in an aquarium produces water wave
(2) increases and its frequency remains the same crests having an amplitude of 1.2 meters every 0.40 second.
(3) remains the same and its frequency decreases If the water wave travels at 4.5 meters per second, the
(4) remains the same and its frequency increases wavelength of the wave is
(1)1.8 m (3) 3.0 m
48 Which wave diagram has both wavelength (λ) and (2) 2.4 m (4) 11 m
amplitude (A) labeled correctly?
57 Orange light has a frequency of 5.0 × 1014 hertz in a
vacuum. What is the wavelength of this light?
(1) 1.5 × 1023m (3) 6.0 × 10–7 m
(2) 1.7 × 10 m
6
(4) 2.0 × 10–15 m

58 The diagram below shows a plane wave passing through

a small opening in a barrier.
On the diagram below, sketch four wave fronts after they
have passed through the barrier.

49 If the frequency of a periodic wave is doubled, the

period of the wave will be
(1) halved (3) quartered
(2) doubled (4) quadrupled
59 Which diagram below best represents the phenomenon
Base your answers to questions 50 to 52 on the information of diffraction?
below. Three waves, A, B, and C, travel 12 meters in 2.0
seconds through the same medium as shown in the diagram
below.

50 What is the amplitude of wave C?

51 What is the period of wave A?

52 What is the speed of wave B?

60 The periodic wave in the diagram below has a frequency
53 A tuning fork oscillates with a frequency of 256 hertz
of 40 Hertz. What is the speed of the wave?
after being struck by a rubber hammer. Which phrase best
describes the sound waves produced by this oscillating
tuning fork?
(1) electromagnetic waves that require no medium for
transmission
(2) electromagnetic waves that require a medium for
transmission
(1) 13 m/s (3) 60. m/s
(2) 27 m/s (4) 120 m/s