Waves Study Guide

Name/Nombre:
__________________________
Study Jams, Schoolnet, Class
Date/Fecha: _______________
Core/Clase: ____
http://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/transverse_longitudinal_waves
.htm
Light (Electromagnetic) Summary
COLOR
WAVES

ELECTROMAGNETIC

PRISM

Light travels in ____________.

The _______________________ spectrum is made up of visible and invisible
light waves arranged by their wavelength and frequency.
Visible light contains the seven colors revealed when light passes
through a __________.
The ________ of an object is determined by which light waves absorbs
and which it reflects. Reflected waves are the colors we see.
Longitudinal Waves
In a longitudinal wave, the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave . This means
that the particles move left and right which in turn makes the other particles start to oscillate. Sound
waves are longitudinal waves.
Another example of a longitudinal wave is a P wave or primary wave during an earthquake. P waves
are also known as compressional waves, because of the pushing and pulling they do

Transverse Waves
A transverse wave is a wave in which the motion of the medium is a right angles to the direction of
the wave.
A wave on a rope is a transverse wave. Light and other electromagnetic waves are also transverse
waves.
Another type of transverse wave is the S wave or secondary wave, which is the second wave you
feel in an earthquake.

1.

This illustration shows three different waves traveling through the same medium.

2.

How do the waves differ from one another?

A. The waves travel at different speeds.
B. The waves have different wavelengths.
C. The waves carry different amounts of energy.
D. The waves are a different distance from the source.
The illustration shows a transverse wave.

3.

Which bar measures the wavelength of the wave?

A. bar W
B. bar X
C. bar Y
D. bar Z
This illustration shows a sound wave traveling from a tuning fork through a medium.

4.

What parts of the wave are labeled X and Y?

A. X represents the compressions; Y represents the rarefactions
B. X represents the rarefactions; Y represents the compressions
C. X represents the compressions; Y represents the wavelength
D. X represents the rarefactions; Y represents the wavelength
What do waves carry through objects?

A. sound
5.

6.

B. light
C. energy
D. water
How are electromagnetic waves different from other waves?
A. They have very short wavelengths
B. They transmit energy instead of matter.
C. They can travel through a vacuum and through matter.
D. They can change direction by reflection when they strike an object.
Which statement correctly describes how a sound wave travels through air?
A. The wave carries molecules of air away from the source of the sound.
B. The wave carries energy that causes molecules to move back and forth.
C. The wave carries a molecule in one direction until it collides with another molecule.
D. The wave moves through the air and gains energy from the moving molecules that it touches.

Waves Study Guide

Name/Nombre: ___Answer
Key_________
Study Jams, Schoolnet, Class
Date/Fecha: _______________
Core/Clase: ____
http://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/transverse_longitudinal_waves
.htm
Light (Electromagnetic) Summary
COLOR
WAVES

ELECTROMAGNETIC

PRISM

Light travels in __waves_____.

The ____electromagnetic_____ spectrum is made up of visible and
invisible light waves arranged by their wavelength and frequency.
Visible light contains the seven colors revealed when light passes
through a __prism__.
The _color_ of an object is determined by which light waves absorbs and
which it reflects. Reflected waves are the colors we see.
Longitudinal Waves
In a longitudinal wave, the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave . This means
that the particles move left and right which in turn makes the other particles start to oscillate. Sound
waves are longitudinal waves.
Another example of a longitudinal wave is a P wave or primary wave during an earthquake. P waves
are also known as compressional waves, because of the pushing and pulling they do

Transverse Waves
A transverse wave is a wave in which the motion of the medium is a right angles to the direction of
the wave.
A wave on a rope is a transverse wave. Light and other electromagnetic waves are also transverse
waves.
Another type of transverse wave is the S wave or secondary wave, which is the second wave you
feel in an earthquake.

1. This illustration shows three different waves traveling through the same medium.

How do the waves differ from one another?

A. The waves travel at different speeds.
B. The waves have different wavelengths.
C. The waves carry different amounts of energy.
D. The waves are a different distance from the source.
2. The illustration shows a transverse wave.

Which bar measures the wavelength of the wave?

A. bar W
B. bar X
C. bar Y
D. bar Z
3. This illustration shows a sound wave traveling from a tuning fork through a medium.

What parts of the wave are labeled X and Y?

A. X represents the compressions; Y represents the rarefactions
B. X represents the rarefactions; Y represents the compressions
C. X represents the compressions; Y represents the wavelength
D. X represents the rarefactions; Y represents the wavelength
4. What do waves carry through objects?
A. sound
B. light
C. energy

D. water

5. How are electromagnetic waves different from other waves?

A. They have very short wavelengths

B. They transmit energy instead of matter.

C. They can travel through a vacuum and through matter.
D. They can change direction by reflection when they strike an object.
6. Which statement correctly describes how a sound wave travels through air?
A. The wave carries molecules of air away from the source of the sound.
B. The wave carries energy that causes molecules to move back and forth.
C. The wave carries a molecule in one direction until it collides with another molecule.
D. The wave moves through the air and gains energy from the moving molecules that it touches.