A student drops a rock in a calm pond. The student observes ripples spreading away from the splash across the surface of the water.

Question

The student asks the following question:

“How are the waves represented by the ripples similar to electromagnetic waves?”



Which statement BEST explains this similarity?

A.
They show both amplitude and frequency.

B.
They destroy their energy at a constant rate as they spread away from their source.

C.
Their speed is constant regardless of the medium they are passing through.

D.
They require a medium through which to travel.

Answer 1

The statement that BEST explains the similarity between the ripples on the pond and electromagnetic waves is:

A. They show both amplitude and frequency.

This is because both types of waves exhibit properties such as amplitude (the height of the wave) and frequency (the number of waves that pass a point in a given period). While electromagnetic waves do not require a medium, the properties of waves, including amplitude and frequency, are common to both phenomena.

Option D is incorrect because electromagnetic waves do not require a medium to travel, while ripples in water do.