General Properties of Waves Quiz

1. Which of the following best explains why waves transfer energy without transferring matter?

• A. Particles vibrate about a fixed position whilst the wave pattern moves forwards
• B. Matter is created at the source and destroyed at the observer
• C. Waves only carry energy through empty space
• D. Particles move permanently in the direction of wave propagation

2. A sound wave has a frequency of 440 Hz and a wavelength of 0.78 m. Calculate the wave speed.

• A. 564 m/s
• B. 343 m/s
• C. 1265 m/s
• D. 0.0018 m/s

3. Which pair of wave types are correctly matched with their vibration direction?

• A. Transverse waves: vibration parallel to propagation; electromagnetic radiation: longitudinal
• B. Longitudinal waves: vibration perpendicular to propagation; water waves: transverse
• C. Transverse waves: vibration perpendicular to propagation; sound waves: longitudinal
• D. Longitudinal waves: vibration perpendicular to propagation; seismic P-waves: transverse

4. In a ripple tank experiment, a water wave travels from deep water into shallow water. What happens to the wavelength?

• A. It increases because the frequency decreases
• B. It decreases because the wave speed decreases
• C. It remains unchanged because frequency is constant
• D. It increases because the wave speed increases

5. A wave is diffracted as it passes through a narrow gap. Which of the following statements explains why increasing the wavelength relative to the gap size increases diffraction?

• A. Longer wavelengths have more energy, so they spread out more
• B. Diffraction occurs when the wavelength is comparable to or larger than the gap size; a larger wavelength-to-gap ratio produces greater spreading
• C. The frequency decreases with longer wavelengths, causing less directional propagation
• D. Longer wavelengths travel faster and cannot be confined by the gap