Question 1

The vibrations of a transverse wave move in a direction
A) along the direction of wave travel.
B) that changes with speed.
C) at right angles to the direction of wave travel.

Accepted Answer

In a transverse wave, the vibrations or oscillations of the particles are perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction of wave travel.

Question 2

The approximate range of human hearing is
A) 20 hertz to 20,000 hertz.
B) 40 hertz to 40,000 hertz.
C) 10 hertz to 10,000 hertz.
D) Actually all of these-depends on the hearing ability of the person.

Accepted Answer

The approximate range of human hearing is generally accepted to be from 20 hertz to 20,000 hertz. This range can vary among individuals but serves as a standard reference.

Question 3

A wave travels an average distance of 1 meter in 1 second with a frequency of 1 hertz. Its amplitude is
A) 1 meter.
B) more than 1 meter.
C) less than 1 meter.
D) not enough information to say

Accepted Answer

The amplitude of a wave is independent of its speed and frequency. It represents the maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its rest position, which is not determined by the given information.

Question 4

An object that completes 100 vibrations in 5 seconds has a period of
A) 0.5 second.
B) 2 seconds.
C) 1 second.
D) None of the above choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

The period is the time it takes for one complete vibration. To find the period, divide the total time by the number of vibrations: 5 seconds / 100 vibrations = 0.05 seconds. None of the provided choices match this calculation.

Question 5

A wave having a frequency of 1000 hertz vibrates at
A) less than 1000 cycles per second.
B) more than 1000 cycles per second.
C) 1000 cycles per second.

Accepted Answer

The frequency of a wave is defined as the number of cycles it completes in one second. Therefore, a wave with a frequency of 1000 hertz vibrates at 1000 cycles per second.

Question 6

The frequency of the second hand on a clock is
A) 1/60 hertz.
B) 60 hertz.
C) 1 hertz.

Accepted Answer

The frequency of the second hand on a clock is 1/60 hertz because it completes one cycle (or tick) every 60 seconds.

Question 7

A child swings to and fro on a playground swing. If the child stands rather than sits, the time for a to-and-fro swing is
A) unchanged.
B) lengthened.
C) shortened.

Accepted Answer

Standing raises the child's center of mass, effectively shortening the pendulum length, which decreases the period of the swing.

Question 8

Suppose you sound a 1056-hertz tuning fork at the same time you strike a note on the piano and hear 2 beats/second. You tighten the piano string very slightly and now hear 3 beats/second. What is the frequency of the piano string?
A) 1053 hertz
B) 1059 hertz
C) 1056 hertz
D) 1054 hertz
E) 1058 hertz

Accepted Answer

The frequency of the piano string is 1059 hertz. This is because the piano string is tightened, which increases its frequency. The difference between the frequency of the tuning fork and the frequency of the piano string is 3 beats/second, which means that the frequency of the piano string is 1059 hertz.

Question 9

Sound refraction depends on the fact that the speed of sound is
A) proportional to frequency.
B) variable.
C) constant.
D) inversely proportional to wavelength.
E) None of the above choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

Sound refraction occurs because the speed of sound can vary due to changes in the medium's properties (such as temperature, pressure, and density), not because it is inherently proportional or inversely proportional to frequency or wavelength.

Question 10

Two tuning forks produce sounds of wavelengths 3.4 meters and 3.3 meters. Approximately what beat frequency is produced?
A) 3.0 hertz
B) 1.0 hertz
C) 0.1 hertz
D) 4.0 hertz
E) 2.0 hertz

Accepted Answer

The beat frequency is the difference between the frequencies of the two tuning forks. The frequency of a wave is inversely proportional to its wavelength, so the tuning fork with the shorter wavelength (3.3 meters) has a higher frequency than the tuning fork with the longer wavelength (3.4 meters). The difference between the frequencies of the two tuning forks is:$$f_1 - f_2 = \frac{v}{\lambda_1} - \frac{v}{\lambda_2} = \frac{v}{\lambda_2} - \frac{v}{\lambda_1} = \frac{v(\lambda_1 - \lambda_2)}{\lambda_1 \lambda_2}$$where v is the speed of sound. Substituting the given values into this equation, we get:$$f_1 - f_2 = \frac{343 	ext{ m/s}(3.4 	ext{ m} - 3.3 	ext{ m})}{3.4 	ext{ m} 	imes 3.3 	ext{ m}} = 3.0 	ext{ Hz}$$Therefore, the beat frequency is approximately 3.0 hertz.

Question 11

A standing wave occurs when
A) the amplitude of a wave exceeds its wavelength.
B) a wave reflects upon itself.
C) two waves overlap.
D) the speed of the wave is zero or near zero.

Accepted Answer

A standing wave occurs when a wave reflects upon itself, creating a pattern of nodes and antinodes due to the interference of the incident and reflected waves.

Quiz 12: Waves and Sound

The vibrations of a transverse wave move in a direction

The approximate range of human hearing is

A wave travels an average distance of 1 meter in 1 second with a frequency of 1 hertz. Its amplitude is

An object that completes 100 vibrations in 5 seconds has a period of

A wave having a frequency of 1000 hertz vibrates at

The frequency of the second hand on a clock is

A child swings to and fro on a playground swing. If the child stands rather than sits, the time for a to-and-fro swing is

Suppose you sound a 1056-hertz tuning fork at the same time you strike a note on the piano and hear 2 beats/second. You tighten the piano string very slightly and now hear 3 beats/second. What is the frequency of the piano string?

Sound refraction depends on the fact that the speed of sound is

Two tuning forks produce sounds of wavelengths 3.4 meters and 3.3 meters. Approximately what beat frequency is produced?

A standing wave occurs when