Name:______________ Date:

Form:_______________
Subject: Physics

Circle the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1. A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place is called a

a. wave.
b. medium.
c. vibration.
d. compression.

2. Mechanical waves are created when a source of energy causes a medium to

a. move.
b. compress.
c. expand.
d. vibrate.

3. The highest parts of a transverse wave are called

a. troughs.
b. crests.
c. nodes.
d. wavelengths.

4. Waves that move the particles of the medium parallel to the direction in which the waves are
traveling are called
a. longitudinal waves.
b. transverse waves.
c. surface waves.
d. combination waves.

5. The maximum distance that the particles of a medium move from the rest position is the
a. amplitude of the wave.
b. wavelength of the wave.
c. frequency of the wave.
d. speed of the wave.

6. The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave is the wave’s

a. amplitude.
b. wavelength.
c. frequency.
d. speed.

7. The speed of a wave is its wavelength multiplied by its

a. amplitude.
b. vibration.
c. frequency.
d. reflection.

8. The bending of waves due to a change in speed is called

a. reflection.
b. refraction.
c. diffraction.
d. interference.
9. The bending of waves around the edge of a barrier is known as
a. reflection.
b. refraction.
c. diffraction.
d. interference.

10. The interaction between two waves that meet is called

a. reflection.
b. refraction.
c. diffraction.
d. interference.

11. Waves combine to make a wave with larger amplitude in a process called
a. destructive interference.
b. constructive interference.
c. reflection.
d. refraction.

12. When an incoming wave combines with a reflected wave in such a way that the combined
wave appears to be standing still, the result is a
a. longitudinal wave.
b. standing wave.
c. transverse wave.
d. surface wave.

13. An example of a mechanical wave is a (n)

a. light wave. c. ocean wave.
b. radio wave. d. X ray.

14. Waves produced by earthquakes are called

a. standing waves.
b. transverse waves.
c. seismic waves.
d. longitudinal waves.

15. You can hear sounds from around corners because of 
a. refraction
b. reflection
c. diffraction
d. elasticity
16. Longitudinal seismic waves are known as
a. primary waves.
b. secondary waves.
c. surface waves.
d. transverse waves.

17. When a wave hits a surface through which it cannot pass and bounces back, it undergoes
a. reflection
b. refraction
c. constructive interference
d. destructive interference
18. The bending of waves due to a change in speed is called
a. reflection
b. refraction
c. diffraction
d. interference

19. The bending of waves around the edge of a barrier is known as 
a. reflection
b. refraction
c. diffraction
d. interference

20. What are the highest and lowest points on a standing wave called?
a. nodes
b. antinodes
c. compressions
d. rarefactions

21. A wave travels through a medium because

a. the medium’s particles are carried along with the wave.
b. the wave’s energy passes from particle to particle.
c. the medium transfers electromagnetic energy.
d. the wave increases the potential energy of its medium.

22. Sound waves with frequencies above 20,000 Hz are called

a. ultrasound c. sonar
b. infrasound d. echolocation

23. Frequency is measured in units called

a. amps. c. nodes.
b. hertz. d. antinodes

24. The speed of sound depends on

a. the loudness of the sound
b. the pitch of the sound
c. the source of the sound
d. the properties of the medium it travels through

25. Loudness, or sound level, is measured in units called

a. decibels c. meters per second
b. hertz d. watts per square meter

26. When a wave hits a surface through which it CANNOT pass and bounces back, it undergoes
a. reflection.
b. refraction.
c. constructive interference.
d. destructive interference.

27. Waves combine to produce a smaller or zero-amplitude wave in a process called

a. destructive interference.
b. constructive interference.
c. reflection.
d. refraction.
 28. Sound waves with frequencies below the normal human range of hearing are called
a. ultrasound
b. infrasound
c. resonance
d. decibels

29. When a wave moves through an opening in a barrier, it

a. is reflected.
b. bends and spreads out.
c. forms nodes and antinodes.
d. speeds up.

30. Why do you see lightning from a distant storm before you hear thunder?
a. The thunder is produced after the lightning.
b. Your eyes react faster than your ears.
c. Light travels faster than sound.
d. Sound travels faster than light.

Modified True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false (T or F). If false, change the identified word or
phrase to make the sentence or statement true.
31. Waves that require a medium through which to travel are called electromagnetic waves.
_________________________
32. In transverse waves, the particles of the medium move at right angles to the direction in
which the wave is traveling. _________________________
33. The unit associated with amplitude is the hertz. _________________________
34. Refraction is a bending that occurs when a wave moves from one medium to another at an
angle and changes speed. _________________________
35. Constructive interference occurs when the amplitudes of two waves combine to produce a
wave with a smaller amplitude. _________________________
36. Nodes are points on a standing wave where the amplitude of the wave is maximum.
_________________________
37. The waves produced by earthquakes are known as seismic waves.
_________________________
38. Tsunamis are huge ocean secondary waves caused by underwater earthquakes.
_________________________
39. A seismograph records the air movements caused by seismic waves.
_________________________
40. A wave bending as it passes a point of land is an example of refraction.
_________________________