BMST Waves, Sound, and Light 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is NOT part of the electromagnetic spectrum?
- X-rays
- Ultraviolet light
- Sound waves (Correct answer)
- Radio waves
Correct answer: Sound waves
Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium to travel and are not electromagnetic; X-rays, ultraviolet, and radio waves are all electromagnetic.
Question 2: Which color of visible light has the longest wavelength?
- Violet
- Blue
- Green
- Red (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Red
Red light has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum (approximately 620–750 nm), while violet has the shortest.
Question 3: What is the Doppler effect?
- The bending of waves around obstacles
- The change in observed frequency due to relative motion between source and observer (Correct answer)
- The bouncing of waves off reflective surfaces
- The spreading of waves through a narrow opening
Correct answer: The change in observed frequency due to relative motion between source and observer
The Doppler effect describes how the observed frequency of a wave changes when the source and observer move relative to each other, like a siren sounding higher as it approaches.
Question 4: What does the amplitude of a wave represent?
- The number of waves passing per second
- The distance between two consecutive wave crests
- The maximum displacement from the rest position (Correct answer)
- The speed at which the wave travels
Correct answer: The maximum displacement from the rest position
Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position, and it is directly related to the energy the wave carries.
Question 5: Through which medium does sound travel fastest?
- Air
- Water
- Steel (Correct answer)
- A vacuum
Correct answer: Steel
Sound travels fastest through solids like steel because tightly packed particles transmit vibrations more quickly than liquids or gases.
Question 6: What is diffraction?
- The splitting of white light into its component colors by a prism
- The bending of waves around the edges of an obstacle or through an opening (Correct answer)
- The bouncing of waves off a reflective surface
- The slowing down of light as it enters a denser medium
Correct answer: The bending of waves around the edges of an obstacle or through an opening
Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves as they pass through an opening or around an obstacle, and it occurs with all types of waves.
Question 7: Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the highest frequency?
- Radio waves
- Infrared radiation
- Visible light
- Gamma rays (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Gamma rays
Gamma rays have the highest frequency and shortest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum, making them the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation.
BMST Waves, Sound, and Light 2
Which of the following is NOT part of the electromagnetic spectrum?