Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Physics

Concept Items

PhysicsConcept Items

Concept Items

13.1 Types of Waves

1 .
Do water waves push water from one place to another? Explain.
  1. No, water waves transfer only energy from one place to another.
  2. Yes, water waves transfer water from one place to another.
2 .
With reference to waves, what is a trough?
  1. the lowermost position of a wave
  2. the uppermost position of a wave
  3. the final position of a wave
  4. the initial position of the wave
3.

Give an example of longitudinal waves.

  1. light waves
  2. water waves in a lake
  3. sound waves in air
  4. seismic waves in Earth’s surface
4 .
What does the speed of a mechanical wave depend on?
  1. the properties of the material through which it travels
  2. the shape of the material through which it travels
  3. the size of the material through which it travels
  4. the color of the material through which it travels

13.2 Wave Properties: Speed, Amplitude, Frequency, and Period

5 .
Which characteristic of a transverse wave is measured along the direction of propagation?
  1. The amplitude of a transverse wave is measured along the direction of propagation.
  2. The amplitude and the wavelength of a transverse wave are measured along the direction of propagation.
  3. The wavelength of a transverse wave is measured along the direction of propagation.
  4. The displacement of the particles of the medium in a transverse wave is measured along the direction of propagation.
6 .
Which kind of seismic waves cannot travel through liquid?
  1. compressional waves
  2. P-waves
  3. longitudinal waves
  4. S-waves
7 .
What is the period of a wave?
  1. the time that a wave takes to complete a half cycle
  2. the time that a wave takes to complete one cycle
  3. the time that a wave takes to complete two cycles
  4. the time that a wave takes to complete four cycles
8 .
When the period of a wave increases, what happens to its frequency?
  1. Its frequency decreases.
  2. Its frequency increases.
  3. Its frequency remains the same.

13.3 Wave Interaction: Superposition and Interference

9 .
Is this statement true or false? The amplitudes of waves add up only if they are propagating in the same line.
  1. True
  2. False
10 .
Why is sound from a stereo louder in one part of the room and softer in another?
  1. Sound is louder in parts of the room where the density is greatest. Sound is softer in parts of the room where density is smallest.
  2. Sound is louder in parts of the room where the density is smallest. Sound is softer in parts of the room where density is greatest.
  3. Sound is louder in parts of the room where constructive interference occurs and softer in parts where destructive interference occurs.
  4. Sound is louder in parts of the room where destructive interference occurs and softer in parts where constructive interference occurs.
11 .
In standing waves on a string, what does the frequency depend on?
  1. The frequency depends on the propagation speed and the density of the string.
  2. The frequency depends on the propagation speed and the length of the string.
  3. The frequency depends on the density and the length of the string.
  4. The frequency depends on the propagation speed, the density, and the length of the string.
12.

Is the following statement true or false? Refraction is useful in fiber optic cables for transmitting signals.

  1. False
  2. True
13 .
What is refraction?
  1. Refraction is the phenomenon in which waves change their path of propagation at the interface of two media with different densities.
  2. Refraction is the phenomenon in which waves change their path of propagation at the interface of two media with the same density.
  3. Refraction is the phenomenon in which waves become non-periodic at the boundary of two media with different densities.
  4. Refraction is the phenomenon in which waves become non-periodic at the boundary of two media with the same density.
Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute Texas Education Agency (TEA). The original material is available at: https://www.texasgateway.org/book/tea-physics . Changes were made to the original material, including updates to art, structure, and other content updates.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jun 7, 2024 Texas Education Agency (TEA). The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.