waves review practice questions

Waves review practice questions

Name: Date:

1. The diagram shown represents four waves travelingto the right in the same transmitting medium.

Which type of wave is represented?

A. elliptical B. longitudinal

C. torsional D. transverse

2. Within a vacuum, the property common to allelectromagnetic waves is their

A. amplitude B. frequency

C. wavelength D. velocity

3. The diagram shown represents four waves travelingto the right in the same transmitting medium.

Which wave has the greatest frequency?

A. A B. B C. C D. D

4. Which wave has the greatest amplitude?

A. A B. B C. C D. D

5. Which characteristic is determined by the sourceof a wave train and will not change when thewave passes into another medium?

A. frequency B. wavelength

C. velocity D. amplitude

6. The pattern shown was recorded by a tape timer.The space between the dots represents 0.02 second.What is the frequency of the timer?

A. 0.02 cycle/sec

B. 5 cycles/sec

C. 50 cycles/sec

D. 500 cycles/sec

7. Which waves require a medium for transmission?

A. light waves B. radio waves

C. sound waves D. cosmic waves

page 1

8. Which part of the longitudinal waveform shownrepresents a rarefaction?

A. A B. B C. C D. D

9. Which area of the longitudinal waveform area bestrepresents the wavelength of the wave shown?

A. A and B B. B and C

C. C, only D. D

10. In the wave diagram shown, one wavelength is thedistance from point A to which point?

A. E B. B

C. C D. D

11. The diagram here represents a light ray beingreflected from a plane mirror. From the data givenin the diagram, what is the angle of reflection?

A. 10◦

B. 40◦

C. 50◦

D. 100◦

12. Which type of wave is classified as longitudinal?

A. water B. radio C. sound D. light

13. Water drips from a faucet at the rate of 150 dropsin 120 seconds. What is the period?

A. 0.80 sec B. 1.3 sec

C. 75 sec D. 300 sec

14. The diagram here represents four waves travelingto the right in the same transmitting medium.

Which wave has the greatest frequency?

A. A B. B C. C D. D

15. In the diagram shown, which distance representsone wavelength?

A. A to B

B. A to C

C. B to D

D. B to F

page 2 Waves review practice questions

16. If the angle of incidence of a light ray is 30◦, theangle of reflection is

A. 30◦ B. 45◦ C. 60◦ D. 90◦

17. The diagrams shown represent an undisturbedmedium and a medium through which adisturbance is moving. Which is represented byarea B ?

A. amplitude B. condensation

C. rarefaction D. reflection

18. The diagram illustrates the wave pattern formedwhen a stone is dropped into still water. Whatdoes the collection of points on the outermostcircle represent?

A. a wave front B. a wavelength

C. the frequency D. the period

19. As a wave travels into a different medium with achange in direction, there will be a change in thewave’s

A. speed B. frequency

C. period D. phase

20. If a disturbance is parallel to the direction of travelof a wave, the wave is classified as

A. longitudinal B. electromagnetic

C. transverse D. torsional

21. Which diagram best represents a periodic wavetraveling though a uniform medium?

A.

B.

C.

D.


22. Two pulses are traveling along a string towardeach other as represented in the diagram shown.Which phenomenon will occur as the pulses meet

A. reflection B. diffraction

C. interference D. refraction

23. When a light ray is reflected from a surface, theratio of the angle of incidence to the angle ofreflection is

A. less than one B. greater than one

C. equal to one

24. When the stretched string of the apparatusrepresented is made to vibrate, point P does notmove. Point P is most probably at the location of

A. a node

B. an antinode

C. maximum amplitude

D. maximum pulse

25. The diagram shows a light ray being reflected froma plane mirror. What is the angle of reflection?

A. 90◦ B. 80◦ C. 50◦ D. 40◦

26. Which two wave representations in the diagramhave the same amplitude?

A. A and C B. A and B

C. B and C D. B and D

27. The wavelength of the periodic wave shown in thediagram is 4.0 meters. What is the distance frompoint B to point C ?

A. 1.0m

B. 2.0m

C. 3.0m

D. 4.0m


28. Two waves of the same wavelength (λ) interfereto form a standing wave pattern as shown inthe diagram. What is the straight-line distancebetween consecutive nodes?

A. 1λ B. 2λ

C. 12λ D. 1

4λ

29. A periodic wave with a frequency of 10 hertzwould have a period of

A. 1 s B. 0.1 s C. 10 s D. 100 s

30. As shown in the diagram, a transverse wave ismoving along a rope. In which direction willsegment X move as the wave passes through it?

A. down, only B. up, only

C. down, then up D. up, then down

31. The diagram shows the direction of water wavesmoving along path XY toward a barrier. Whicharrow represents the direction of the waves afterthey have reflected from the barrier?

A.

B.

C.

D.

32. What is the period of a periodic wave that has afrequency of 60 hertz?

A. 1.7 × 10−2 s B. 2.0 × 104 s

C. 3.0 × 10−3 s D. 3.3 × 102 s

33. How many nodes are represented in the standingwave diagram?

A. 1 B. 6 C. 3 D. 4

34. The diagram pictured shows radar waves beingemitted from a stationary police car and reflectedby a moving car back to the police car. Thedifference in apparent frequency between theincident and reflected waves is an example of

A. constructive interference

B. refraction

C. the Doppler effect

D. total internal reflection


35. The diagram shows a transverse pulse movingto the right in a string. Which diagram bestrepresents the motion of point P as the pulsepasses point P ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

36. The periodic wave in the diagram shown has afrequency of 40 hertz. What is the speed of thewave?

A. 13m/s B. 27m/s

C. 60m/s D. 120m/s

37. Two wave sources operating in phase in thesame medium produce the circular wave patternsshown in the diagram. The solid lines representwave crests and the dashed lines represent wavetroughs. Which point is at a position of maximumdestructive interference?

A. A B. B C. C D. D

38. The distance between successive antinodes in thestanding wave pattern shown is equal to

A. 1 wavelength B. 2 wavelengths

C. 12 wavelength D. 1

3 wavelength


39. Which diagram best represents the reflection oflight from an irregular surface?

A.

B.

C.

D.

40. The diagram shown represents a rope alongwhich two pulses of equal amplitude, A, approachpoint P. When the two pulses meet at P, thevertical displacement of the rope at point P will be

A. A B. 2A

C. 0 D.A2

41. Which graph best represents the relationshipbetween the frequency and period of a wave?

A. B.

C. D.

42. The diagram shown represents a wave generatorhaving a constant frequency of 12 hertz producingparallel wave fronts in a ripple tank. The velocityof the waves is v.

Using a ruler, measure the wavelength of thewaves shown and record the value to the nearesttenth of a centimeter.

43. Determine the speed of the waves in the rippletank. [Show all calculations, including theequation and substitution with units.]


44. Base your answers to the following question(s) onthe information and diagram shown.

Two waves, A and B, travel in the samedirection in the same medium at the sametime.

On the grid, draw the resultant wave produced bythe superposition of waves A and B.

45. What is the amplitude of the resultant wave?

46. The diagram shows two pulses, A and B, movingto the right along a uniform rope.

Compared to pulse A, pulse B has

A. a slower speed and more energy

B. a faster speed and less energy

C. a faster speed and the same energy

D. the same speed and more energy

47. A wave generator located 4.0 meters from areflecting wall produces a standing wave in astring, as shown in the diagram.

If the speed of the wave is 10 meters per second,what is its frequency?

A. 0.40Hz B. 5.0Hz

C. 10Hz D. 40Hz

48. The diagram shows two pulses, each of length `,traveling toward each other at equal speed in arope.

Which diagram best represents the shape of therope when both pulses are in region AB ?

A. B.

C. D.


49. Base your answer(s) to the following question(s)on the diagram, which represents waves A, B, C,and D traveling in the same medium.

Which two waves shown here have the samewavelength?

A. A and B B. A and C

C. B and D D. C4and D4

50. The accompanying diagram shows two wavesapproaching eachother in the same uniformmedium.

Which diagram best represents the appearance ofthe medium after the waves ahve passed througheach other?

A.

B.

C.

D.

51. The accompanying diagram represents a periodicwave.

Which two points on the wave are in phase?

A. A and D B. A and G

C. C and K D. D and I


52. As shown in the accompanying diagram, atransverse wave is moving with velocity v along arope.

In which direction will segment X move as thewave passes through it?

A. down, only

B. up, only

C. down, then up, then down

D. up, then down, then up

53. Base your answer(s) to the following question(s)on the information below.

A periodic transverse wave has anamplitude of 0.20 meter and a wavelength of3.0 meters.

On the grid provided below, draw at least onecycle of this periodic wave.

54. The accompanying diagram shows a standingwave.

Point A on the standing wave is

A. a node resulting from constructive interference

B. a node resulting from destructive interference

C. an antinode resulting from constructiveinterference

D. an antinode resulting from destructiveinterference

55. The accompanying diagram shows a plane wavepassing through a small opening in a barrier.

On the diagram above, sketch four wave frontsafter they have passed through the barrier.

56. Rubbing a moistened finger around the rim ofa water glass transfers energy to the glass atthe natural frequency of the glass. Which wavephenomenon is responsible for this effect?

57. Calculate the wavelength in a vacuum of a radiowave having a frequency of 2.2 × 106 hertz. [Showall work, including the equation and substitutionwith units.]


58. Two pulses, A and B, travel toward each otheralong the same rope, as shown below.

When the centers of the two pulses meet atpoint X, the amplitude at the center of the resultantpulse will be

A. +1 unit B. +2 units

C. 0 D. −1 unit

59. The diagram below represents a transverse wavemoving along a string.

On the diagram below, draw a transverse wave thatwould produce complete destructive interferencewhen superimposed with the original wave

60. Base your answer(s) to the following question(s)on the information below.

A periodic wave traveling in a uniformmedium has a wavelength of 0.080 meter, anamplitude of 0.040 meter, and a frequency of5.0 hertz.

On the grid below, starting at point A, sketch agraph of at least one complete cycle of the waveshowing its amplitude and period.

61. A tuning fork that vibrates 256 times per secondproduces a wave that is 1.50 meters long. Thespeed of the wave is

A. 171m/sec B. 256m/sec

C. 258m/sec D. 384m/sec

62. In the diagram, four test tubes contain varyingamounts of water as shown. If all the air columnsare made to vibrate by blowing air across theirtops, which will have the highest frequency?

A. B. C. D.


63. The tendency of sound waves to bend when theypass from one medium to a different medium isknown as

A. refraction B. reflection

C. resonance D. interference

64. As the temperature of air increases, the speed ofsound in air

A. decreases B. increases

C. remains the same

65. What occurs as a ray of light passes from air intowater?

A. The ray must decrease in speed.

B. The ray must increase in speed.

C. The ray must decrease in frequency.

D. The ray must increase in frequency.


Problem-Attic format version 4.4.178c_ 2011–2013 EducAide Software

Licensed for use by Simone ShakerTerms of Use at www.problem-attic.com

Waves review practice questions 05/10/2013

1.Answer: D

2.Answer: D

3.Answer: B

4.Answer: D

5.Answer: A

6.Answer: C

7.Answer: C

8.Answer: B

9.Answer: A

10.Answer: C

11.Answer: C

12.Answer: C

13.Answer: A

14.Answer: B

15.Answer: D

16.Answer: A

17.Answer: B

18.Answer: A

19.Answer: A

20.Answer: A

21.Answer: B

22.Answer: C

23.Answer: C

24.Answer: A

25.Answer: D

26.Answer: A

27.Answer: B

28.Answer: C

29.Answer: B

30.Answer: D

31.Answer: C

32.Answer: A

33.Answer: D

34.Answer: C

35.Answer: C

36.Answer: C

37.Answer: B

38.Answer: A

Teacher’s Key Page 2

39.Answer: C

40.Answer: B

41.Answer: D

42.Answer: 0.9 cm (±0.1) cm

43.Answer: v = 10.8 cm/s

44.

45.Answer: 0.3m or 30 cm (or equivalent)

46.Answer: D

47.Answer: B

48.Answer: C

49.Answer: B

50.Answer: A

51.Answer: C

52.Answer: D

53.Answer:

54.Answer: B

55.Answer:

56.Answer: resonance, standing waves or

sympathetic vibration

57.Answer: λ = 1.4 × 102 m or 140m or 136m

58.Answer: A

59.Answer:

60.Answer: amplitude n 0.3 grid space.

period n 0.3 grid space.

61.Answer: D

62.Answer: D

63.Answer: A

64.Answer: B

65.Answer: A

waves review practice questions

Documents