Waves: Types, Properties, and Behavior - Science and Technology for Adult Education

Question 1

When a wave moves from a medium with higher density to one with lower density, what happens to its wavelength?

Accepted Answer

Increases

Answer

Decreases

Answer

Stays the same

Answer

Changes based on the wave's frequency

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a well-defined property of waves?

Accepted Answer

Indestructibility

Answer

Amplitude

Answer

Frequency

Question 3

Which type of wave exhibits oscillations perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation?

Accepted Answer

Transverse wave

Answer

Surface wave

Answer

Standing wave

Answer

Longitudinal wave

Question 4

The frequency of a wave refers to its:

Accepted Answer

Number of oscillations per unit time

Answer

Amplitude

Answer

Wavelength

Question 5

Which of the following waves possesses the longest wavelength?

Accepted Answer

Radio waves

Answer

Infrared radiation

Answer

Microwaves

Answer

Ultraviolet radiation

Question 6

The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, their:

Accepted Answer

Resultant displacement is the algebraic sum of their individual displacements

Answer

Amplitudes are subtracted from each other

Answer

Frequencies are added together

Question 7

Which of the following is a practical application of standing waves?

Accepted Answer

Musical instruments

Answer

Radio communication

Answer

Power generation

Answer

Medical imaging

Question 8

The Doppler effect refers to the change in:

Accepted Answer

Observed frequency of waves due to relative motion between the source and observer

Answer

Wavelength of waves

Answer

Amplitude of waves

Question 9

Which of the following is a characteristic feature of electromagnetic waves?

Accepted Answer

They can propagate through a vacuum

Answer

They are longitudinal waves

Answer

They require a medium to propagate

Answer

They have no energy

Question 10

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of transverse waves?

Accepted Answer

The particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

Answer

The particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation.

Answer

Transverse waves require a medium for propagation.

Answer

Transverse waves can only propagate in a vacuum.

Question 11

Categorize sound waves based on their propagation characteristics.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal

Answer

Transverse

Answer

Electromagnetic

Question 12

Which of the following phenomena is exhibited by electromagnetic radiation?

Accepted Answer

It can travel through a vacuum.

Answer

It requires a physical medium for propagation.

Answer

Its speed depends on the medium it travels through.

Answer

It is a mechanical wave.

Question 13

When a wave encounters a boundary, what are the possible outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Reflection, refraction, or diffraction

Answer

Only refraction occurs.

Answer

Only reflection occurs.

Question 14

What is the term for the phenomenon where two or more waves combine to create a new wave?

Accepted Answer

Interference

Answer

Diffraction

Answer

Refraction

Answer

Polarization

Question 15

What term describes the horizontal distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave?

Accepted Answer

Wavelength

Answer

Amplitude

Answer

Frequency

Answer

Period

Question 16

Which of the following correctly describes the behavior of waves?

Accepted Answer

They can transfer energy without transferring matter

Answer

They can travel through a vacuum, carrying matter with them

Answer

They can only transfer energy in the direction they are traveling

Answer

They always require a medium to travel through

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a mechanical wave?

Accepted Answer

Sound wave

Answer

Gravitational wave

Answer

Matter wave

Answer

Electromagnetic wave

Question 18

What happens when a wave encounters an obstacle in its path?

Accepted Answer

It can undergo reflection, refraction, diffraction, or absorption

Answer

It disappears completely upon encountering the obstacle

Answer

It always bounces off the obstacle at the same angle it hits

Answer

It always passes through the obstacle without changing direction

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a property of electromagnetic waves?

Accepted Answer

They require a medium to travel through

Answer

They travel at the speed of light in a vacuum

Answer

They can exhibit interference and diffraction

Answer

They consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields

Question 20

What is the approximate value of the speed of light in a vacuum?

Accepted Answer

3 x 10^8 meters per second

Answer

3 x 10^5 meters per second

Answer

3 x 10^2 meters per second

Answer

3 x 10^11 meters per second

Question 21

What is the Doppler effect in waves?

Accepted Answer

The change in frequency or wavelength of a wave due to relative motion between the source and observer

Answer

The bending of waves as they pass through a medium of changing density

Answer

The reinforcement or cancellation of waves due to their superposition

Question 22

Which of the following is **not** a property of waves?

Accepted Answer

Mass

Answer

Wavelength

Answer

Amplitude

Answer

Frequency

Question 23

What type of wave is sound?

Accepted Answer

Mechanical

Answer

Electromagnetic

Answer

Gravitational

Answer

Quantum

Question 24

Which of the following is the unit of frequency?

Accepted Answer

Hertz

Answer

Watts

Answer

Seconds

Answer

Meters

Question 25

What happens to the wavelength of a wave when its frequency **increases**?

Accepted Answer

Decreases

Answer

Remains the same

Answer

Increases

Answer

Cannot be determined

Question 26

Which of the following is the speed of light in a vacuum?

Accepted Answer

3 x 10^8 m/s

Answer

5 x 10^7 m/s

Answer

1 x 10^9 m/s

Answer

2 x 10^7 m/s

Question 27

What is the energy carried by a **photon** of light?

Accepted Answer

hf

Answer

mgh

Answer

Fc

Answer

mv^2/2

Question 28

Which of the following materials is **transparent** to electromagnetic waves?

Accepted Answer

Glass

Answer

Concrete

Answer

Wood

Answer

Metal

Question 29

Which of the following is **not** an example of constructive interference?

Accepted Answer

Dark spot on a screen from two coherent light sources

Answer

Bright spot on a screen from two coherent light sources

Answer

Echo from a sound wave bouncing off a wall

Question 30

What is the principle of superposition?

Accepted Answer

When two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave is the sum of the individual waves.

Answer

When two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave is the average of the individual waves.

Answer

When two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave is the difference of the individual waves.

Question 31

Which of the following is a fundamental property of waves?

Accepted Answer

They can transfer energy without transferring matter.

Answer

They always have the same speed.

Answer

They always travel in a straight path.

Answer

They are always visible to humans.

Question 32

Describe the relationship between the wavelength and frequency of a wave.

Accepted Answer

They are inversely proportional, meaning as wavelength increases, frequency decreases.

Answer

They are directly proportional, meaning as wavelength increases, frequency also increases.

Answer

They are equal, meaning wavelength and frequency have the same numerical value.

Answer

They are unrelated and can vary independently without affecting each other.

Question 33

Which of the following options describes a common method of wave propagation?

Accepted Answer

Reflection

Answer

Evaporation

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Diffusion

Question 34

What happens to the velocity of a wave when it transitions from a less dense medium to a more dense medium?

Accepted Answer

It decreases.

Answer

It increases.

Answer

It becomes zero.

Answer

It remains constant.

Question 35

Provide an example of a practical application that utilizes sound waves.

Accepted Answer

Ultrasound imaging in medical diagnostics

Answer

X-rays

Answer

Fiber optics

Answer

Microwave ovens

Question 36

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon when two waves combine to create a new, distinct wave pattern?

Accepted Answer

Interference

Answer

Diffraction

Answer

Refraction

Question 37

Which unit is commonly used to measure the wavelength of waves?

Accepted Answer

Meter

Answer

Ampere

Answer

Joule

Answer

Hertz

Question 38

Identify the primary factor that influences the speed at which a wave propagates.

Accepted Answer

The properties of the medium through which it travels

Answer

The amplitude of the wave

Answer

The frequency of the wave

Answer

The wavelength of the wave

Question 39

Which of the following is **not** considered a fundamental property of waves?

Accepted Answer

Mass

Answer

Amplitude

Answer

Frequency

Answer

Wavelength

Question 40

The SI unit of wavelength is the:

Accepted Answer

Meter

Answer

Newton

Answer

Hertz

Answer

Joule

Question 41

When a wave encounters an obstacle, it can undergo which of the following interactions?

Accepted Answer

Reflection, refraction, or diffraction

Answer

Diffraction and interference

Answer

Absorption and transmission

Answer

Amplification and attenuation

Question 42

Which of the following accurately describes the phenomenon observed when white light passes through a prism?

Accepted Answer

Dispersion

Answer

Polarization

Answer

Reflection

Answer

Interference

Question 43

The operation of a microwave oven is based on the principle that:

Accepted Answer

Microwave radiation interacts with water molecules, leading to their excitation and heat generation

Answer

Ultraviolet radiation kills bacteria and sanitizes food

Answer

Infrared radiation penetrates food, heating it evenly

Question 44

Which of the following is an example of a standing wave?

Accepted Answer

A vibrating guitar string with fixed endpoints

Answer

Ocean waves

Answer

Sound waves in a closed room

Question 45

The relationship between the frequency and wavelength of a wave is:

Accepted Answer

Inversely proportional

Answer

Quadratically proportional

Answer

Logarithmically proportional

Answer

Directly proportional

Question 46

Which of the following is **not** considered a type of electromagnetic wave?

Accepted Answer

Sound wave

Answer

Microwave

Answer

Radio wave

Answer

X-ray

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of waves?

Accepted Answer

Mass

Answer

Wavelength

Answer

Frequency

Answer

Amplitude

Question 48

A wave with a high frequency will have a ____ wavelength.

Accepted Answer

Short

Answer

Variable

Answer

Medium

Answer

Long

Question 49

Which wave phenomenon occurs when a wave bends around an obstacle?

Accepted Answer

Diffraction

Answer

Refraction

Answer

Reflection

Answer

Dispersion

Question 50

Which type of electromagnetic wave has the longest wavelength?

Accepted Answer

Radio waves

Answer

Microwaves

Answer

Infrared waves

Answer

Ultraviolet waves

Question 51

What is the primary distinction between transverse and longitudinal waves?

Accepted Answer

The direction of particle movement relative to wave propagation

Answer

The wavelength of the wave

Answer

The frequency of the wave

Answer

The speed of the wave

Question 52

The Doppler effect is observed when:

Accepted Answer

A wave source and observer move relative to each other.

Answer

Two waves of the same frequency interfere.

Answer

A wave passes through a medium with different densities.