Crash Course Traveling Waves

The diagram below represents a transverse wave traveling to the right through a medium. Point A represents a particle of the medium.

In which direction will particle A move in the next instant of time?

• up

• down

• left

• right

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

As a transverse wave travels through a medium, the individual particles of the medium move:

• perpendicular to the direction of wave travel

• parallel to the direction of the wave travel

• in circles

• in ellipses

Which type of wave requires a material medium through which to travel?

• radio wave

• microwave

• light wave

• mechanical wave

A tuning fork vibrating in air produces sound waves. These waves are best classified as:

• transverse, because the air molecules are vibrating parallel to the direction of wave motion

• transverse, because the air molecules are vibrating perpendicular to the direction of wave motion

• longitudinal, because the air molecules are vibrating parallel to the direction of wave motion

• longitudinal, because the air molecules are vibrating perpendicular to the direction of wave motion

A longitudinal wave moves to the right through a uniform medium, as shown below. Points B & C represent the positions of particles of the medium.

Which image below represents the movement of particle C as the wave passes through the medium.

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

A longitudinal wave moves to the right through a uniform medium, as shown below. Points A, B, C, D, and E represent the positions of particles of the medium.

The wavelength of this wave is equal to the distance between points

• A and B

• A and C

• B and C

• B and E

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

The energy of a wave is related to:

• amplitude

• period

• speed

• wavelength

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NGSS.HS-PS4-1

As a longitudinal wave moves through a medium, the particles of the medium

• vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave’s propagation

• vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the wave’s propagation

• are transferred in the direction of the wave’s motion, only

• . are stationary

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NGSS.HS-PS3-2

The speed of a sound wave in a particular sample of air is 331 m/s. What is the wavelength of a 256 Hz sound wave in this medium?

• 1.17 x 10⁶ m

• 1.29 m

• 0.773 m

• 8.53 x 10^{-7 m}

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

What is the period of a water wave if 4 complete waves pass a fixed point in 10 seconds?

• 0.25 s

• 0.40 s

• 2.5 s

• 4.0 s

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1