Unit 8 (Waves) Test  

1. A mechanical wave generally does NOT 

a. move the medium from one place to another 
b. move through a medium 
c. move through solids 
d. disturb a medium 
 
2. Transverse and longitudinal waves both 
a. have compressions and rarefactions 
b. transfer energy through a medium 
c. move at right angles to the vibration of the medium 
d. are capable of moving the medium from one place to another 
 
3. Which type of mechanical wave needs a source of energy to produce it? 
a. A transverse wave 
b. A longitudinal wave 
c. A surface wave 
d. All of the above 
 
4. A disturbance sends ripples across water in a tub. These ripples are an example of a 
a. A rarefaction 
b. A longitudinal wave 
c. A compression  
d. A surface wave 
 
5. Sound waves expand and compress air molecules as they move from your mouth to someone else’s ear. 
Sound waves are a real life example of which type of mechanical wave?  
a. Transverse wave 
b. Longitudinal wave 
c. Surface wave 
d. Electromagnetic wave 
 
6. During an earthquake, S-waves are sent out in all directions from the focus of the earthquake. S-waves are 
an example of a transverse mechanical wave. S-waves moves through solid rock in a... 
a. Circular motion 
b. Series of faults 
c. Series of compressions and rarefactions 
d. Series of crests and troughs 
 
7. A wave has a wavelength of 10 m and a frequency of 5.0 hertz. What is its speed? 
a. 50 m/s 
b. 50 Hz/s 
c. 2.0 m/s 
d. .50 m/s 
 
 

 
  
8. What is the speed of a transverse wave that is moving at 760Hz with a wavelength of .45 m? 
a. 1688.9 m/s 
b. 342 m/s 
c. 342 meters 
d. 1688.9 meters 
 
9. Consider the wave from question 8. Assume it is moving at the same speed, but now its wavelength has 
increased to 1.5 m. What will happen to its frequency? 
a. Frequency will increase 
b. Frequency will decrease 
c. Frequency will stay the same 
 
10. What is the frequency of a wave that is moving at 30 m/s with a wavelength of .5 m? 
a. 15 Hz 
b. 60 m/s 
c. 60 Hz 
d. 15 m/s 
 
11. What is the frequency of a wave that is moving at 75 m/s with a wavelength of 0.2 m? 
a. 15 Hz 
b. 375 Hz 
c. 30 Hz 
d. 750 Hz 
 
12. Which wave would have higher energy, the wave described in question 10 or the wave described in question 
11? 
a. The wave described in question 10 
b. The wave described in question 11 
c. Both waves have the same energy 
13. A wave has a frequency of 12 Hz and is traveling at 340 m/s. What is the wavelength? 
a. 28.3 m 
b. 4080 m  
c. 28.3 m/s 
d. 4080 m/s 
 
14. A wave with a frequency of 500 Hz is traveling at a speed of 200 m/s. What is the wavelength? 
a. 2.5 Hz 
b. 0.4 m/s 
c. 0.4 m 
d. 2.5 m/s 
 
15. A sound wave, generated at a frequency of 440 hertz has a wavelength of 2.3 meters as it travels through a 
solid material. The approximate speed of the wave is ____ m/s. 
a. 140 
b. 190 
c. 760 
d. 1,000 
  
Figure 8.1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16. According to F ​ igure 8.1​ above, which of the following waves have the same frequency but not the same 
amplitude? 
a. Q and S 
b. P and Q 
c. T and R 
d. S and R 
 
17. According to F
​ igure 8.1​ above, wave ________ has a steady amplitude but a changing frequency. 
a. P 
b. R 
c. S 
d. T 
 
18. According to F​ igure 8.1 ​above, which wave has the lowest amplitude with a steady frequency. 
a. P 
b. T 
c. R 
d. S 

19. Which graph shown above has an amplitude of 10 centimeters?

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. B and C
  

 
20. Referring to F
​ igure 23-2A​, the distance from point A to point G is 6.0 meters. If the speed of the wave is 330 
meters per second, the frequency of this wave is ____ Hz.  
a. 55 
b. 165 
c. 660 
d. 1980 
 
21. The image of the seal to the right is an example of what?  
a. Reflection 
b. Diffraction 
c. Refraction 
d. Rarefraction 
 
22. What is happening to the seal in this picture?  
a. The light waves are being bent around the glass  
b. The light waves are slowing down due to different 
mediums  
c. The light waves are being reflected by the water 
d. Tragedy!!!!! His head has been cut off his body 
 
23. Which of the following is NOT a property of waves? 
a. Frequency 
b. Amplitude 
c. Wave Speed 
d. Mass 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Use the diagram below to answer questions 24-26 

24. Which wave would be the most damaging for humans to be exposed to? 
a. Infrared  
b. X-rays 
c. Ultraviolet  
d. Radio Waves 
 
25. Which waves have the highest frequency?  
a. AM Radio Waves 
b. FM Radio Waves 
c. Infrared 
d. Visible Light 
 
26. Which waves have the greatest wavelength? 
a. X-rays 
b. Radio Waves 
c. Gamma Rays 
d. Visible Light 
 
27. Which type of wave interaction occurs when a wave bounces off a surface it cannot travel through? 
a. Reflection 
b. Refraction 
c. Diffraction 
d. Interference 
  
 
 
 
28. Looking at the diagram to the left, which wave will have the 
greater energy?  
a. High Amplitude 
b. Low Amplitude 
c. There is no relationship between energy and Amplitude 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29. Choose 2 answer choices below that correctly analyzes and 
explains the data in D
​ iagram 1​ to the right.  
Answer Choices:  
1. Sound waves travel faster through solids than liquids.  
2. Sound waves travel faster through gases than solids. 
3. Sound waves travel faster through liquids than solids. 
4. Sound waves travel through solids the fastest since the 
atoms are closer together and more compact. 
5. Sound waves travel through gases the fastest since the 
atoms are farther apart.  
6. Sound waves travel through liquids the fastest since the energy can flow with the liquid.  
 
a. 2 and 5 b. 3 and 6 c. 1 and 5 d. 1 and 4 
 
30. You leave the classroom and walk down the hallway towards the bathroom. You can still hear the booming of 
your teacher’s voice, but you can’t make out what they are saying. Why? 
a. The sound waves produced by your teacher’s voice are reflecting off the tile floor in the hallway 
b. The sound waves produced by your teacher’s voice are refracting as they enter different mediums between 
the classroom and hallway 
c. The sound waves produced by your teacher’s voice are diffracting as they travel around the corner and 
through the narrow opening of the classroom doorway. 
d. The sound waves produced by your teacher’s voice are interfering with other waves in the air, such as radio 
waves and WiFi waves.