MISA Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation 2

Question 1

What does the amplitude of a wave represent?

Accepted Answer

The maximum displacement of the medium from its resting position

Answer

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of particles in the medium from their equilibrium position, and it is related to the energy carried by the wave.

Question 2

What is refraction?

Accepted Answer

The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium into another

Answer

Refraction is the bending of a wave's path that occurs when it crosses a boundary between two media with different wave speeds.

Question 3

A wave completes 50 cycles in one second. What is its frequency?

Accepted Answer

50 hertz

Answer

Frequency is the number of complete wave cycles per second, measured in hertz (Hz); 50 cycles per second equals 50 Hz.

Question 4

Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is used in microwave ovens to heat food?

Accepted Answer

Microwaves

Answer

Microwave ovens use microwaves (typically at 2.45 GHz) because water molecules in food efficiently absorb this frequency and convert it to thermal energy.

Question 5

What phenomenon explains why the sky appears blue on a clear day?

Accepted Answer

Scattering of shorter-wavelength blue light by atmospheric gas molecules

Answer

Rayleigh scattering causes shorter-wavelength blue light to be scattered much more strongly by atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen molecules than other colors, making the sky appear blue.

MISA - Maryland Integrated Science Assessment Practice Test

MISA - Maryland Integrated Science Assessment Practice Test

MISA Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation 2