Chapter 12

Pretest
Waves

1. Vibrating particles that are in phase

have the:
A) same displacement and same
direction of motion,
B) same displacement and opposite
direction of motion,
C) opposite displacement and same
direction of motion,
D) opposite displacement and opposite
direction of motion,
E) who cares?

1. Vibrating particles that are in phase

have the:
A) same displacement and same
direction of motion,
B) same displacement and opposite
direction of motion,
C) opposite displacement and same
direction of motion,
D) opposite displacement and opposite
direction of motion,
E) who cares?

2. Which statement about a ripple

tank is not true?
A) Surface waves are easy to
produce.
B) Surface waves move slowly.
C) An image of surface waves can
be projected on a screen.
D) In the projected image a wave
crest appears dark.

2. Which statement about a ripple

tank is not true?
A) Surface waves are easy to
produce.
B) Surface waves move slowly.
C) An image of surface waves can
be projected on a screen.
D) In the projected image a wave
crest appears dark.

3. In an interference pattern,
the points of maximum
displacement are:
A) nodes,
B) loops,
C) crests,
D) troughs.

3. In an interference pattern,
the points of maximum
displacement are:
A) nodes,
B) loops,
C) crests,
D) troughs.

4. Which of these
expressions is not
equal to the others?
A) 50 cycles,
B) 50/s,
-1
C) 50 s ,
D) 50 Hz.

4. Which of these
expressions is not
equal to the others?
A) 50 cycles,
B) 50/s,
-1
C) 50 s ,
D) 50 Hz.

5. The period of a wave

and its frequency are:
A) unrelated,
B) equal,
C) reciprocals,
D) directly proportional.

5. The period of a wave

and its frequency are:
A) unrelated,
B) equal,
C) reciprocals,
D) directly proportional.

6. Which of the following is NOT

useful in generating and
transmitting mechanical waves?
A) an elastic medium,
B) a vacuum,
C) a source of energy,
D) a material that behaves as if it
were made of particles connected
by springs, with each particle
having an equilibrium position.

6. Which of the following is NOT

useful in generating and
transmitting mechanical waves?
A) an elastic medium,
B) a vacuum,
C) a source of energy,
D) a material that behaves as if it
were made of particles connected
by springs, with each particle
having an equilibrium position.

7. Here are five possible requirements for

superposition to occur:
1. Two or more waves are needed.
2. The waves travel through different media.
3. The waves travel through the same
medium.
4. The waves travel simultaneously.
5. The waves travel at different times.
The correct combination of requirements is:
A) 1,2, and 4,
B) 1,2, and 5,
C) 1, 3, and 4,
D) 1, 3, and 5.

7. Here are five possible requirements for

superposition to occur:
1. Two or more waves are needed.
2. The waves travel through different media.
3. The waves travel through the same
medium.
4. The waves travel simultaneously.
5. The waves travel at different times.
The correct combination of requirements is:
A) 1,2, and 4,
B) 1,2, and 5,
C) 1, 3, and 4,
D) 1, 3, and 5.

8. A mass attached to a spring

vibrates back and forth. At
maximum displacement, the spring
force and the:
a. velocity reach a maximum.
b. velocity reach zero.
c. acceleration reach a maximum.
d. acceleration reach zero.

8. A mass attached to a spring

vibrates back and forth. At
maximum displacement, the spring
force and the:
a. velocity reach a maximum.
b. velocity reach zero.
c. acceleration reach a maximum.
d. acceleration reach
zero.

9. Which of the following is

the time it takes to complete a
cycle of motion?
a. amplitude
b. period
c. frequency
d. acceleration

9. Which of the following is

the time it takes to complete a
cycle of motion?
a. amplitude
b. period
c. frequency
d. acceleration

10. A musical tone sounded on a

piano has a frequency of 410 Hz
and a wavelength of 0.80 m.
What is the speed of the sound
wave?
A. 170 m/s
B. 240 m/s
C. 330 m/s
D. 590 m/s

10. A musical tone sounded on a

piano has a frequency of 410 Hz
and a wavelength of 0.80 m.
What is the speed of the sound
wave?
A. 170 m/s
B. 240 m/s
C. 330 m/s
D. 590 m/s

11. A student sends a pulse traveling on a

taut rope with one end attached to a post.
What will the student observe?
A. The pulse will not be reflected if the rope
is free to slide up and down on the post.
B. The pulse will be reflected and inverted if
the rope is free to slide up and down on the
post.
C. The pulse will be reflected and inverted if
the rope is fixed to the post.
D. The pulse will not be inverted if the rope is
fixed to the post.

11. A student sends a pulse traveling on a

taut rope with one end attached to a post.
What will the student observe?
A. The pulse will not be reflected if the rope
is free to slide up and down on the post.
B. The pulse will be reflected and inverted if
the rope is free to slide up and down on the
post.
C. The pulse will be reflected and inverted
if the rope is fixed to the post.
D. The pulse will not be inverted if the rope is
fixed to the post.

1. Draw a sketch of a device that

can generate periodic
transverse waves. On your
sketch, label crest, trough,
wavelength, and amplitude;
identify two particles that are in
phase and two particles that
are in opposite phase.

The high points are the

crests; the low points are
the troughs.
Two crests are in the
same phase; a crest and a
trough are in opposite
phase.

2. A sound having a
frequency of 264 Hz
travels through air at
341 m/s. What is
the wavelength of
the sound?

v=f
341 = 264 x
= 1.29 m

3. Green light, wavelength

-7
5.20 X 10 m, travels
through air at a speed of
8
3.00 X 10 m/s. Calculate
the frequency and period
of green light waves.

v=f

3.00 X 108 = f x 5.20 X 10-7

f = 5.77 x 10 Hz
14

1/5.77 x 1014 = 1.74 x 10-15 s

4. How is the
relationship between
period and frequency
represented as an
equation?

T = 1/f or
f = 1/T