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Sound and Light Study Guide Answer Key

The document is a study guide covering waves, sound, and light, detailing the differences between mechanical and electromagnetic waves, properties of waves, and characteristics of sound. It explains concepts such as frequency, amplitude, pitch, and the Doppler Effect, as well as the nature of light and the electromagnetic spectrum. Additionally, it defines terms related to transparency and color perception in objects.

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34 views5 pages

Sound and Light Study Guide Answer Key

The document is a study guide covering waves, sound, and light, detailing the differences between mechanical and electromagnetic waves, properties of waves, and characteristics of sound. It explains concepts such as frequency, amplitude, pitch, and the Doppler Effect, as well as the nature of light and the electromagnetic spectrum. Additionally, it defines terms related to transparency and color perception in objects.

Uploaded by

franklincastro3601
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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WAVES, SOUND AND LIGHT STUDY GUIDE

Chapter 8 Section 1:
1. What is the difference between mechanical and electromagnetic waves?
Mechanical waves are periodic disturbances that must pass through
matter/medium. Mechanical waves are longitudinal (sound) waves, seismic
waves, and ocean waves. Electromagnetic waves are a disturbance, which does
not require a medium, or matter in order to transmit energy; can travel even
through a vacuum; and caused due to varying electric and magnetic fields.
Mechanical waves are transverse waves such as radio waves, microwaves,
infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays.

2. Give 3 examples of electromagnetic waves.

Visible light, gamma rays, radio waves

3. Draw and label a transverse AND longitudinal wave.

Transverse Wave

Longitudinal
Wave

4. What is a surface wave?

Surface waves look like transverse waves, but the particles of the medium move in
circles rather than up and down; a combination of transverse and longitudinal

waves.

Chapter 8 Section 2:
5. List and define the 3 properties that all waves have?

1. Amplitude - the largest distance a wave moves away from the rest position.
LARGER AMPLITUDE = MORE ENERGY
2. Frequency - The number of waves that pass a certain point in a given amount of
time; Measured in HERTZ (Hz); HIGHER FREQUENCY = MORE ENERGY
3. Wavelength - The distance between any 2 corresponding points on a wave. For
example, the distance between 2 crests in a transversal wave or 2 compressions in
a longitudinal wave. SHORTER WAVELENGTH = MORE ENERGY

6. If wavelength increases, what happens to the frequency?

If wavelength increases, frequency decreases.

7. What unit is used to measure frequency?

Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Chapter 21 Section 1:
8. What is sound? A wave caused by vibrations and carried through a substance.

Sound waves travel in all directions away from their source. Most of the sounds

that you hear travel through air at least part of the time. But sound waves can also

travel through other materials, such as water, glass, and metals.

9. Is sound a longitudinal or transverse wave?

Sound is a longitudinal wave.

10. Is sound a mechanical or electromagnetic wave?

Sound is a mechanical wave because it must travel through a medium.

11. What

is diffraction?

Diffraction is the bending of waves around a barrier or


through a opening. The amount of diffraction of a wave
depends on its wavelength and the size of the opening or
barrier.
12. What is the speed of sound?

344 m/s in air, 1482m/s fresh water, 12000m/s diamond


13. a) Does sound travel fastest through a solid, liquid, or gas? b) Why
is there a difference in speed through different mediums?

a) Sound waves travel faster in solids than they do in liquids than they do in gases.
(Speed of Sound = Solid > liquid> gas)
b) Because molecules in a solid medium are much closer together than those in a
liquid or gas, allowing sound waves to travel more quickly through it. In fact,
sound waves travel over 17 times faster through steel than through air.

Chapter 8 Section 4:

14. How are frequency and pitch related?

Pitch is highness or lowness of a sound; depends on frequency of sound wave.


High pitch=high frequency
Low pitch=low frequency

15. How are loudness and amplitude related?

Loudness is a measure of how well a sound can be heard. The larger the

amplitude, the louder the sound, and the smaller the amplitude, the softer the

sound

Loudness is measured decibles.

100 dB will damage a person’s ears.

16. What is the Doppler Effect? b) Give an example

 The Doppler Effect is the apparent change in the frequency of a sound caused
by the motion of either the listener or the source of the sound.

Chapter 8 Section 5:
17. What is an electromagnetic wave?Electromagnetic waves are a disturbance,
which does not require a medium, or matter in order to transmit energy; can
travel even through a vacuum; and caused due to varying electric and magnetic
fields.
18. What is the speed of light? 300,000 km/sec; 186,000 mi/sec

Chapter 8 Section 5:
19. Draw and label an electromagnetic spectrum.

20. What colors are included in visible light? b) What colors have the longest
and shortest wavelength?
a) Roy G. Biv – Acronym for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, & Violet.
b) Largest to Smallest Wavelength.

Chapter 8 Section 6:
21. What is transparent?

TRANSPARENT-light is transmitted through easily

22. What is translucent?

TRANSLUCENT-transmits and scatters light

23. What is opaque?

OPAQUE- does not transmit light

Examples:
TRANSPARENT TRANSLUCENT OPAQUE
Saran-Wrap Wax Paper Aluminum Foil

24. What determines the color of an object?

The color an opaque object appears depends on the colors of light it reflects.

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