Practice Set 4.4 - Waves, Energy, and Information

Maria is at a piano concert with her sister. Which of the following best describes the movement of energy at the concert as soon as the concert begins?

• Sound energy moves from the piano to Maria's ears.

• Sound energy moves from Maria's ears to the piano.

• Sound energy moves from the piano to Maria's ears, and then directly to her sister's ears.

• Sound energy moves from the piano to Maria's brain.

Answer explanation

Sound energy moves from the source (the piano) to Maria’s ears. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A mother dog is communicating with her puppies by making growling noises. Once the growling noise leaves the mother dog, what happens next?

• As the sound moves through the air, particles in the air collide with one another.

• As the sound moves through the air, particles in the air move back toward the mother dog.

• As sound moves through the air, particles in the air move a lot at first.

• As sound moves through the air, particles in the air line up and move toward the puppies.

Answer explanation

As sound moves from the source (the mother) and through the air, the particles collide with each other. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What question would you ask to determine if energy has been transferred between interacting air particles?

• Did the particles get bigger?

• Did the particles come from a source?

• Did the particles change direction?

• All of the above.

Answer explanation

Energy has been transferred if the particles change direction (after collision). 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

The scientist makes the claim that Monkey 1 makes the loudest noises. Is her claim accurate? Explain using evidence.

• Yes; the amplitude from Monkey 1 is the largest, which means the sound is the loudest.

• Yes; the amplitude from Monkey 1 is the smallest, which means the sound is the loudest.

• No; the amplitude from Monkey 1 is the largest, which means the sound is the quietest.

• No; the amplitude from Monkey 1 is the smallest, which means the sound is the quietest.

Answer explanation

The scientist is not correct; Monkey 1 has the smallest amplitude of all three monkeys. The smaller the amplitude, the quieter the sound. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Ali is at the beach with his family. He notices that the waves flow toward the shore and make a pattern of rising up and falling back down. Some waves are taller than others. Ali has been studying sound in school, and he thinks this reminds him of something he learned. Which of the following ideas (that he has learned) best represents the type of patterns he notices with the ocean?

• All sound waves from animals have the same amplitude.

• All sound waves from animals have the same wavelength.

• Some sound waves from animals have higher amplitudes than others.

• Most sound waves from animals do not have amplitudes or wavelengths.

Answer explanation

Some sound waves from animals have higher amplitude (louder) than others, just like some ocean waves are taller than others. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Digital technology such as computers and cell phones turns voice and text messages into a code. The code is usually made up of only two symbols, 0 and 1. The order of these symbols is used to send messages over long distances to the receiving device. The receiving device changes the coded message into a form people can see or hear. Why are patterns important for digital communication?

• Patterns in the code help to keep the message secret.

• Patterns help the digital device to send electrical signals.

• Patterns create a code that the sending device and receiving device can understand.

• People who receive the messages use the code pattern to create a new code.

Answer explanation

In order for the sending and receiving device to communicate, they must have a common understanding of the patterns. The patterns create rules for the information being sent. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-3

An engineer is designing a new type of cell phone with a special feature. The goal is for the phone to make pictures look brighter. Which of the following plans would help with this design process?

• The engineer should test one combination of binary code and then implement it in the new phone.

• The engineer should test different combinations of binary code in an older phone before testing in a new phone.

• The engineer should test different combinations of binary code to see which solves the problem in the new phone.

• The engineer should test the one combination of binary code she thinks will work.

Answer explanation

It is important for the engineer to test many solutions to determine which best solves the problem. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

An engineer is designing a model of ocean waves. She wants to use it to teach science students. Why should the engineer test her model?

• to make sure that the model is better than all other models

• to make sure that it meets the criteria and to identify any failure points

• to define the problem the engineer needs to address

• to determine the goals of the project

Answer explanation

Engineering design uses testing as a way to to find problems that may need improvement. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

Two squirrels (A and B) are in a tree. One squirrel (A) makes loud noises at the other one (B). Explain how energy is related to this example.

• Energy is transferred from squirrel B to squirrel A.

• Energy is created by squirrel A.

• Energy is transferred from the ground, then to squirrel A, and then finally to squirrel B.

• Energy is transferred from squirrel A to squirrel B.

Answer explanation

Energy transfers from the source (A) to the listener (squirrel B) 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5