7th Grade ScienceWaves Study Guide

  1. A student ties one end of a rope to a tree and holds the other end in his hand, then moves the rope up and down, as shown below. The resulting wave travels up and down through the rope.

This type of mechanical wave would be

A. transverse waveB. longitudinal wave

C. compressional waveD. earthquake wave

  1. Two students lay a slinky in the floor. One student holds their end still while the other student pushes their end forward. The resulting wave travels back and forth through the slinky.

This type of mechanical wave would be

A. transverse waveB. longitudinal wave

C. light waveD. radio wave

  1. All electromagnetic waves
  1. require a medium to travel through
  2. do not require a medium to travel through
  3. travel at the speed of light
  4. both B and C are true
  1. Consider the picture below:

This wave could be

A. a light waveB. a mechanical wave

C. an electromagnetic waveD. All of these choices are correct.

Use the triangle below to help you answer numbers 5, 6, and 7.

  1. What is the wavelength of a 250 Hz wave if its speed is 275 m/s?
  1. A trumpet produces a sound with a wavelength of 3.6 meters. What is the frequency of the sound if the speed is 348 m/s?
  1. What is the frequency of a water wave if its speed is 27 m/s and its wavelength is 15 meters?
  1. What is the frequency of the wave below if its speed is 5 m/s?

  1. Consider the two waves below.

Wave AWave B

Tell the difference(s) between the Wave A and Wave B.

  1. Which of these actions produces an actual wave?
  1. a skateboard going down a hill
  2. a ball rolling across the floor
  3. a rabbit jumping up and down through the grass
  4. a violin being played
  1. Which of the following produces an electromagnetic wave?

A. a trumpet being playedB. a boat going through the water

C. the sunD. a slinky

  1. Which of the following is correct about a transverse wave?
  1. Waves with short wavelengths have less energy.
  2. Waves with short wavelengths have more energy.
  3. Waves with high frequencies have less energy.
  4. Waves with low amplitudes have high energy.
  1. Electromagnetic waves can travel through space. Which of the following is true?
  1. Electromagnetic waves are mechanical waves.
  2. Electromagnetic waves can be longitudinal waves.
  3. Electromagnetic waves must have a medium through which to travel.
  4. Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum and do not require a medium.
  1. Transverse waves

A. are sound waves.B. ALWAYS require a medium to travel.

C. can be mechanical or electromagnetic.D. are also called compressional waves.

  1. Which of the following is NOT an electromagnetic wave?

A. radio waveB. sound wave

C. ultraviolet waveD. infrared wave

16. Use the electromagnetic spectrum below to answer numbers 15-16.

Which of the following has a frequency that is lower than visible light?

A. UV raysB. Gamma rays

C. infrared wavesD. X ray

  1. Which of the following has a wavelength longer than infrared waves?

A. UV lightB. X rays

C. Gamma raysD. Radio waves

  1. Where do microwaves fall on the electromagnetic spectrum?
  1. between gamma rays and X rays
  2. between radio waves and infrared
  3. between visible light and infrared
  4. between visible light and X rays
  1. Label the wavelength, amplitude, crest, and trough on the wave below.
  1. Rank the waves below in order from highest to lowest frequency.