Wave Basics
All waves transfer __________ from one place to another.
Energy
What is the name of the wave behavior that occurs when a wave bounces off a surface?
Reflection
Sound waves are what type of waves: mechanical or electromagnetic?
Mechanical
What happens when white light passes through a prism?
It separates into the colors of visible light.
Which type of wave allows sunlight to travel from the Sun to Earth?
Electromagnetic
What is the difference between a mechanical wave and an electromagnetic wave?
Mechanical waves require a medium; electromagnetic waves do not.
When light passes through a window, which wave behavior is occurring?
Transmission
Sound waves need a __________ to travel through.
Medium
Which color of visible light has the longest wavelength: red or blue?
Red
Which becomes warmer in sunlight: a black shirt or a white shirt?
A black shirt
True or False: Waves transfer matter from one location to another.
False. Waves transfer energy, not matter.
A student sees a pencil appear bent when it is placed in a glass of water. Which wave behavior explains this?
Refraction
Why can't sound travel through empty space?
Sound needs particles in a medium to vibrate and transfer energy.
An object appears green because it reflects __________ light into your eyes.
Green
A student shouts near a canyon wall and hears the sound again. What causes the echo?
Sound waves reflect off the canyon walls.
A student moves a rope up and down to create waves. What is being transferred along the rope?
Energy
A thick carpet prevents sound from traveling easily through a room because the sound energy is taken in by the carpet. What behavior is occurring?
Absorption
A student plucks a guitar string. The string vibrates and causes nearby air particles to vibrate. How does the sound energy travel?
Through vibrations of a medium.
A student shines white light through a prism. Which has a longer wavelength: red light or violet light?
Red light
A house has dark floor tiles that absorb sunlight and release heat. How does this help warm the house?
The tiles absorb solar energy and release it as heat.
A wave travels across a pond, but a floating leaf only moves up and down. What does this demonstrate about waves?
Waves transfer energy without permanently moving matter along with them.
A sound wave travels toward a wall and bounces back to the listener. Explain which wave behavior occurs and what the listener hears.
Reflection occurs, and the listener hears an echo.
A student increases how quickly they move a rope up and down. What happens to the frequency of the waves? What happens to the energy according to the lab assessment?
Both frequency and energy increase.
A blue object is placed under white light. What happens to the blue light, and what happens to most of the other visible colors?
The object reflects blue light and absorbs most of the other colors.
Two objects are placed in sunlight for the same amount of time. One is black and one is white. Explain why the black object is likely to become warmer.
The black object absorbs more light energy and reflects less, while the white object reflects more light and absorbs less.