Wave Parts
Sound & Waves
Light & Color
Mirrors & Light Rays
Science Challenge
100

What is the name of the highest point of a transverse wave?

Crest 

100

What causes an object to produce sound? 

Vibrations 

100

When light strikes a mirror and bounces away, what is this called? 

Relfection

100

Which type of mirror is flat?

A plane mirror

100

What must be present for sound to travel from one place to another?

Matter

200

What do we call the lowest part of a transverse wave?

The trough 

200

What is the name for how high or low a sound seems? 

Pitch

200

Why does a blue object look blue? 

It reflects blue light into our eyes

200

Which type of mirror curves outward and is often used for a car's side mirror?

A convex mirror

200

A student sees an apple in a room. Explain how light helps the student see it.

Light reflects off the apple and enters the student's eyes. 

300

What measurement describes the distance from the resting line to a crest? 

Amplitude 

300

A student plucks a rubber band harder. What might happen to the sound?

It may become louder, because the stronger pluck can produce greater vibrations. 

300

A spoon looks bent when it sits in a glass of water. What causes this appearance? 

Refraction, or light changing direction as it passes between materials. 

300

Which type of mirror curves inward?

A concave mirror 

300

Could a student hear a ringing bell in completely empty outer space?

No. Sound needs matter to transfer its energy, and a vacuum has no matter for sound to travel through. 

400

A wave has a crest every 8 centimeters. What is the wavelength?

8 centimeters, if the next crest is 8 centimeters away. 

400

During a longitudinal wave, how do the particles move compared with the direction the wave travels?

Back and forth, parallel to the direction the wave travels. 

400

What happens to light when it passes through a prism? 

The prism refracts the light and can separate white light into its different colors. 

400

An arrow is placed beyond the focal point of a concave mirror. How might its image appear?

Upside down.

400

Two transverse wave models have equal wavelengths, but one has a greater amplitude. What is different about the waves?

The wave with greater amplitude has a greater distance from its equilibrium line to its crest of trough. 

500

Two waves travel across the same distance. One has many closely spaced crests, and the other has fewer, widely spaced crests. Which has the longer wavelength? 

The wave with fewer, more widely spaced crests. 

500

A sound wave travels through a material, but the particles do not travel all the way to the listener. How does the sound reach the listener?

Particles vibrate and transfer energy to the neighboring particles through the material. 

500

A black shirt is placed in sunlight. What happens to much of the visible light that hits in?

The shirt absorbs much of the visible light. 

500

An arrow is placed in front of a plane mirror. Will its image normally appear upright or upside down?

Upright. 

500

A student makes a longitudinal wave using a slinky. Describe how the coils move and how energy travels. 

The coils move back and forth parallel to the direction the wave travels. Energy transfers through the slinky as compressions and refractions move along it. 

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