Understanding Waves Quiz

What is a wave?

• A force that pulls objects downward

• A regular pattern of motion created by a vibrating disturbance

• A flow of air that causes movement

• A solid object that remains in one place

What does a wave transfer as it moves from one place to another?

• Matter

• Energy

• Air

• Sound

What is a medium?

• The speed of a wave

• The frequency of a wave

• A substance through which a wave travels

• The height of a wave

What happens to particles in a medium when a wave passes through?

• They stop moving

• They oscillate

• They disappear

• They become larger

What is the "back and forth" motion of particles across a point called?

• Rarefaction

• Compression

• Oscillation

• Reflection

What is equilibrium in relation to waves?

• The highest point of a wave

• The natural resting position of a medium

• The speed of a wave

• The compression area of a wave

What type of waves move at a constant speed and oscillate regularly?

• Surface waves

• Mechanical waves

• Periodic waves

• Transverse waves

What creates an electromagnetic wave?

• Vibrations of an object

• Oscillations of electric and magnetic fields

• Water currents

• Sound energy

Which of the following is true about electromagnetic (EM) waves?

• They require a medium to travel

• They cannot travel through space

• They can travel through a vacuum

• They do not transfer energy

What produces a mechanical wave?

• A vibrating object or mechanical movement

• An electric charge

• A magnetic field

• Light energy