Waves – Worksheets MCQ | Multiple Choice Questions from the waves chapter – physics

Waves (physics) – MCQ worksheets with answer + other exercises & assignments

Waves – MCQ Worksheet (with answer) – set 1

1. Types of mechanical waves include
   a. longitudinal waves.
   b. transverse waves.
   c. surface waves.
   d. all of the above
2. The medium of a mechanical wave can be a
   a. gas.
   b. solid.
   c. liquid.
   d. any of the above
3. The crests of a transverse wave are like the
   a. crests of a primary wave.
   b. troughs of a longitudinal wave.
   c. rarefactions of a secondary wave.
   d. compressions of a longitudinal wave.
4. Examples of mechanical waves include all of the following except
   a. ocean waves.
   b. sound waves.
   c. waves in a rope.
   d. electromagnetic waves.
5. Waves that an earthquake sends through rocks underground include
   a. tsunami waves.
   b. transverse waves.
   c. longitudinal waves.
   d. two of the above
6. Which of the following statements about ocean waves is true?
   a. They travel on the surface of the water.
   b. They travel deep underwater.
   c. They are secondary waves.
   d. They are primary waves.
7. You generate a longitudinal wave when you
   a. shake a spring up and down.
   b. shake a rope up and down.
   c. push and pull a spring.
   d. two of the above

Answers to MCQ Worksheet -set 1

Multiple Choice

1. d
2. d
3. d
4. d
5. d
6. a
7. c

Waves – MCQ Worksheet (with answer) – set 2

1. Measures of wave size include
   a. wavelength.
   b. wave amplitude.
   c. wave frequency.
   d. two of the above
2. The amplitude of a transverse wave is the distance between
   a. two adjacent crests.
   b. two adjacent troughs.
   c. a crest and a trough.
   d. a crest and the resting position.
3. What is the speed of a wave that has a wavelength of 0.5 meters and a frequency of 2 waves per second?
   a. 1/4 m/s
   b. 1 m/s
   c. 4 m/s
   d. 10 m/s
4. Wave amplitude depends on
   a. wavelength.
   b. wave speed.
   c. wave energy.
   d. wave frequency.
   e. wave energy of the original disturbance.
5. When one wave passes a fixed point every second, the frequency of the waves is
   a. 0.1 Hz.
   b. 1 Hz.
   c. 10 Hz.
   d. none of the above
6. Assume that a wave has a fixed speed. If the frequency of the wave increases, its wavelength
   a. increases.
   b. decreases.
   c. does not change.
   d. may or may not change.
7. The speed of waves depends on their
   a. wavelength.
   b. frequency.
   c. medium.
   d. all of the above

Answers to MCQ Worksheet -set 2

1. d
2. d
3. b
4. c
5. b
6. b
7. d
   

Waves – MCQ Worksheet (with answer) – set 3

1. Ways that waves may interact with matter include
   a. diffraction.
   b. destructive interference.
   c. constructive interference.
   d. all of the above
2. Reflected waves differ from the original waves before they were reflected in their
   a. speed.
   b. direction.
   c. frequency.
   d. wavelength.
3. Refraction occurs because waves
   a. cannot travel through an obstacle such as a wall.
   b. travel at different speeds in different media.
   c. interfere with their reflected waves.
   d. none of the above
4. If the length of an obstacle is greater than the wavelength of a wave, you would expect to see
   a. no diffraction.
   b. very little diffraction.
   c. a lot of diffraction.
   d. wave interference.
5. A standing wave is a wave that
   a. is not moving.
   b. has an upright direction.
   c. is taller than other waves.
   d. appears to be standing still.
6. A standing wave occurs because of a combination of
   a. incidence and reflection.
   b. refraction and diffraction.
   c. refraction and interference.
   d. constructive and destructive interference.
7. Which statement about destructive interference is true?
   a. It occurs when waves pass through each other.
   b. It results in a wave with a higher frequency.
   c. It occurs when waves interact with matter.
   d. It always produces a standing wave.

Answers to MCQ Worksheet -set 3

Multiple Choice

1. a
2. b
3. b
4. b
5. d
6. d
7. a

Match the definition with a term – Matching worksheet from Waves chapter (set 4)

Matching Assignment:
Match each definition with the correct term.

Match each definition with the correct term.

Definitions
1. disturbance in matter that transfers energy from place to place
2. part of a longitudinal wave where particles of the medium are spread farthest apart
3. wave in which particles of the medium vibrate at right angles to the direction that the wave travels
4. combined transverse and longitudinal wave
5. part of a transverse wave where particles of the medium are lowest
6. wave in which particles of the medium vibrate in the same direction that the wave travels
7. matter through which a mechanical wave travels

Terms
a. longitudinal wave
b. trough
c. mechanical wave
d. medium
e. surface wave
f. rarefaction
g. transverse wave

Answer – Matching Assignment (set 4)

Matching

1. c
2. f
3. g
4. e
5. b
6. a
7. d

Match the definition with a term – Matching worksheet from Waves chapter (set 5)

Matching Assignment:
Match each definition with the correct term.

Match each definition with the correct term.

Definitions
1. maximum distance the particles of a medium move from their resting position
2. number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time
3. how far a wave travels in a given amount of time
4. highest point reached by particles of the medium in a transverse wave
5. distance between two corresponding points on adjacent waves
6. location of particles of the medium in the absence of a wave
7. SI unit for wave frequency

Terms
a. hertz
b. wavelength
c. wave amplitude
d. resting position
e. wave frequency
f. crest
g. wave speed

Answer – Matching Assignment (set 5)

Matching

1. c
2. e
3. g
4. f
5. b
6. d
7. a

Match the definition with a term – Matching worksheet from Waves chapter (set 6)

Matching Assignment:
Match each definition with the correct term.

Match each definition with the correct term.

Definitions
1. change in direction of waves as they enter a new medium at an angle
2. bouncing back of waves from a barrier
3. any interaction of waves with other waves
4. situation in which crests of one wave overlap crests of another wave
5. any interaction of waves with matter
6. spreading out of waves as they pass around a barrier
7. situation in which crests of one wave overlap troughs of another wave

Terms
a. diffraction
b. wave interaction
c. reflection
d. constructive interference
e. refraction
f. destructive interference
g. wave interference

Answer – Matching Assignment (set 6)

Matching

1. e
2. c
3. g
4. d
5. b
6. a
7. f

Fill in the Blanks – worksheet from Waves chapter (set 7)

Fill in the Blank: Fill in the blank with the appropriate term.

1. A wave in a rope is an example of a(n) __ wave.
2. The highest parts of a transverse wave are called __.
3. A(n) __ wave is a transverse wave that occurs with earthquakes.
4. The parts of a longitudinal wave where particles of the medium are closest together are called __.
5. A(n) __ wave is a longitudinal wave that occurs with earthquakes.
6. Ocean waves are __ waves.
7. In a(n) __ wave, particles of the medium move in a circular motion.

Answer – Fill in the Blank (answers) (set 7)

Fill in the Blank

1. transverse
2. crests
3. secondary (S)
4. compressions
5. primary (P)
6. surface
7. surface

Fill in the Blanks – worksheet from Waves chapter (set 8)

Fill in the Blank: Fill in the blank with the appropriate term.

Fill in the blank with the appropriate term.

1. In a longitudinal wave, wave __ is a measure of how compressed particles of the medium become.
2. Wave amplitude is determined by the __ of the disturbance that causes the wave.
3. Short-wavelength waves have __ energy than long-wavelength waves.
4. High-frequency waves have __ energy than low-frequency waves.
5. Wave __ is equal to wavelength multiplied by wave frequency.
6. Wavelength and wave frequency have a(n) __ relationship.
7. Waves usually travel most rapidly through matter in the __ state.

Answer – Fill in the Blank (answers) (set 8)

Fill in the Blank

1. amplitude
2. energy
3. more
4. more
5. speed
6. inverse
7. solid

Fill in the Blanks – worksheet from Waves chapter (set 9)

Fill in the Blank: Fill in the blank with the appropriate term.

Fill in the blank with the appropriate term.

1. An echo is an example of wave __.
2. We can see objects because they __ waves of light.
3. You can hear sounds around the corner of a building because of wave __.
4. How much a wave is diffracted depends on the length of the obstacle and the __ of the wave.
5. __ interference increases wave amplitude.
6. A straight straw in a glass of water appears to be bent because of wave __.
7. The angle with which waves strike a barrier is called the angle of __.

Answer – Fill in the Blank (answers) (set 9)

Fill in the Blank

1. reflection
2. reflect
3. diffraction
4. wavelength
5. Constructive
6. refraction
7. incidence

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Sound – MCQ & other worksheets