WCAS Waves and Their Applications

Question 1

What property of a wave is defined as the number of complete wave cycles that pass a given point per second?

Accepted Answer

Frequency

Answer

Frequency is the number of complete wave cycles passing a point per second, measured in hertz (Hz).

Question 2

Which of the following types of waves requires a medium to travel through?

Accepted Answer

Sound waves

Answer

Sound is a mechanical wave and must travel through a physical medium such as air, water, or a solid.

Question 3

If a wave's frequency increases while its speed stays constant, what happens to its wavelength?

Accepted Answer

It decreases

Answer

Since wave speed = frequency × wavelength, if frequency increases and speed is constant, wavelength must decrease.

Question 4

The amplitude of a wave is best described as:

Accepted Answer

The maximum displacement of a medium from its rest position

Answer

Amplitude measures how far the wave displaces the medium from its equilibrium position, which relates to the wave's energy.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a transverse wave?

Accepted Answer

Light wave traveling through space

Answer

Light waves are electromagnetic transverse waves in which oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy travel.

WCAS - Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science Practice Test