Waves Unit Test Review

1. Hal wonders about the properties of electromagnetic waves that make up the visible light spectrum. He conducts an experiment to see how sunlight behaves while moving through a prism. He is able to separate visible light into colors of the rainbow. He notices that each color has a unique wavelength and frequency. Which of these statements describe visible light waves? Choose the two that apply.

• Red light has a longer distance between wave crests than blue light.
• Yellow light has a shorter distance between wave crests than green light.
• Blue light has a longer distance between wave crests than red light.
• Blue light has a shorter distance between wave crests than orange light.
• Orange light has a shorter distance between wave crests than violet light.

2. Hal researches how rainbows form. He learns that when light traveling through the air moves through water droplets, a rainbow forms. Which process names what happens when light is transmitted from air to water during the formation of a rainbow?

• absorption
• amplification
• reflection
• refraction

4. Erika visits the Grand Canyon with her family. When she shouts near the edge, she can hear her voice echo throughout the canyon. Which statement describes why Erika hears her echo?

• The sound was loud.
• The sound waves travelled in a vacuum.
• The sound waves reflected off the canyon walls.
• The sound waves bent as they travelled into the canyon.

5. Bella is designing a model of a longitudinal sound wave for her science classroom. Which of the following pieces of information should Bella include in her model? Choose the two statements that apply.

• Sound must travel through a material to transfer energy.
• Sound must travel through a vacuum to transfer energy.
• Rarefaction and compression are properties of longitudinal waves.
• Crests and troughs are properties of longitudinal waves.

7. Corey pours lemonade into a glass and places a straw in the glass. When he observes the straw through the side of the glass, the straw appears to be broken into two parts. Which statement explains Corey’s observations of the straw?

• Reflection - Light waves are bouncing off of the straw.
• Absorption - Light waves are absorbed by the water in the glass.
• Transmission - Light waves are undergoing destructive interference.
• Refraction - Light waves are bending when they travel from one material to another due to a change in speed.

8. Which of these statements is true about the behavior of light?

• Light behaves like a longitudinal electromagnetic wave.
• Light consists of electric and magnetic fields that are parallel to one another.
• Light waves vibrate in only one direction.
• Light behaves as a wave or a particle depending on the situation.

9. Two boys are holding onto the ends of a long piece of string, and they move it up and down to make a wave. They begin to move the string faster and faster. When they move the string faster, the ENERGY ________________.

• remains the same
• increases
• decreases

10. Two boys are holding onto the ends of a long piece of string, and they move it up and down to make a wave. They begin to move the string faster and faster. When they move the string faster, the FREQUENCY ________________.

• remains the same
• increases
• decreases

11. How do mechanical and electromagnetic waves differ?

• Both waves transfer energy but only mechanical waves require a medium
• Both waves transfer energy but only electromagnetic waves require a medium
• Neither wave transfers energy
• There is no difference in the waves

12. Nina learns about different types of waves in her science class. What does every type of wave transfer?

• color
• energy
• heat
• matter