Waves and Information Transfer

Which characteristic of a wave can be modified to carry information?

• speed

• energy

• medium

• amplitude

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

What property of an electromagnetic wave changes when the wave is encoded with analog information?

• speed

• amplitude

• frequency

• wavelength

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

What is one reason digital signals are considered more reliable than analog?

• Digital signals can be used by more people.

• Digital signals can be designed to reduce noise.

• Digital signals can be coded and decoded easily.

• Digital signals can be carried over long distances.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-3

Waves transfer (a)  

• Matter

• Molecules

• Energy

• Atoms

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Move one interaction term into each box.

b

c

d

diffraction

absorption

reflection

refraction

Answer explanation

This is the correct response because each model is correctly identified. The model on the left shows

diffraction, which occurs when waves spread as they travel after passing through an opening or passing

by a corner. The center model shows refraction, which occurs when waves bend as they pass from one

medium to another. The model on the right shows reflection, which occurs when waves bounce off a

surface. In addition, an echo is a reflection, so echo has been correctly applied to the model on the right.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The picture below shows a ringing bell inside a vacuum jar. As air is pumped from the vacuum jar, the sound level of the ringing bell will decrease until it can no longer be heard.

This happens because air must be present in the jar in order for

• sound to be transferred

• electricity to flow through the wires

• the rubber to seal the jar

• the bell clanger to vibrate

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Waves transfer​ (a)   from one place to another.

• Energy

• Matter

• Molecules

• Force

• Surfers

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

What can happen if there is too much noise in a digital signal?

• The signal changes speed.

• The signal cannot be sent.

• The signal becomes difficult to decode.

• The signal is unable to carry information.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-3

What is one reason that electromagnetic waves are used in long-distance communication?

• They travel rapidly.

• They move matter easily.

• They do not lose energy over long distances.

• Information can be encoded in the wave speed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

An engineer is designing a device that sends and stores information. He decides using digital information is better than analog. What is one reason he would decide this?

• Digital signals have less noise.

• Digital signals are easier for people to understand.

• Digital signals do not change when they are stored.

• Digital signals do not need special equipment to be decoded

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-3