Question

waves
directions: read each question and circle the correct answer. after answering all questions, color the picture using the colors that correspond to each correct answer.

1. a wave is a pattern of motion that transports _.
2. which term refers to the lowest point of a wave?
3. which term refers to the highest point of a wave?
4. what do the arrows in the following diagram represent?
5. what do the arrows in the following diagram represent?
6. the number of waves that pass a given point per second is known as a waves _.
7. as wavelength increases, the frequency _.
8. a _ energy wave will have a _ amplitude.
9. a material through which a wave can travel is known as a _.
10. ocean waves are _ waves.
11. x - rays are _ waves.
12. sound waves are _ waves.
13. earthquakes produce _ waves that move through the earths layers.
14. which statement is true?
15. which statement is false?

Explanation:

1. Waves transport energy. Matter is not transported in a wave's motion (except in some cases like with tsunamis but generally conceptually it's energy).
2. The lowest point of a wave is called a trough. Crest is the highest, amplitude is the height from mid - line.
3. The highest point of a wave is a crest. Trough is the lowest, peak is similar to crest but less technical in this context.
4. The vertical arrow in a wave diagram (assuming it's from mid - line to crest/trough) represents amplitude. Wavelength is horizontal distance between same points, frequency is number of waves per second.
5. The horizontal arrow (assuming between two crests or two troughs) represents wavelength.
6. The number of waves per second is frequency. Wavelength is distance, amplitude is height.
7. Using the formula \(c = \lambda f\) (where \(c\) is speed of wave, \(\lambda\) is wavelength, \(f\) is frequency) and assuming constant wave speed (in a given medium), as \(\lambda\) increases, \(f\) decreases.
8. A low - energy wave has a low amplitude. Higher energy waves have higher amplitudes (for mechanical waves in general concept).
9. A medium is the material through which a wave travels. Interference is when waves interact, spectrum is a range (like electromagnetic spectrum).
10. Ocean waves are mechanical waves as they require a medium (water) to travel. Electromagnetic waves don't need a medium.
11. X - rays are electromagnetic waves as they can travel through vacuum (don't need a medium like mechanical waves).
12. Sound waves are mechanical waves as they need a medium (air, water, solid) to travel.
13. Earthquakes produce seismic waves. Electromagnetic waves are a different type (like light, X - rays), macro is not a wave type in this context.
14. Sound waves require a medium. You won't hear sound in space (which is a vacuum). Not all waves need a medium (electromagnetic don't), and it's not only electromagnetic that don't (but in the options given, the sound - medium statement is correct).
15. Ocean waves transfer energy, not water (particles move in a circular motion but overall water mass doesn't move long distances like the wave's energy does).

Answer:

1. C. energy
2. B. trough
3. A. crest
4. C. amplitude
5. A. wavelength
6. B. frequency
7. A. decreases
8. A. low, high
9. A. medium
10. C. mechanical
11. B. electromagnetic
12. C. mechanical
13. B. seismic
14. B. Sound waves require a medium. You will not hear sound in space.
15. A. Ocean waves transfer water.