9 of 10 9 of 10 ItemsNext

03:57
Pause

Skip to resources Feature
Comparing Waves

Question 1

PART A
I bet you have watched astronauts in the space station on television or on your computer. We see them; we hear them speak. How are the voices of astronauts transmitted back to Earth?
Responses

A sound wavessound waves

B transverse wavestransverse waves

C mechanical wavesmechanical waves

D longitudinal waveslongitudinal waves
Question 2

PART B
Compare the two waves seen here. All BUT ONE answer describes how is the wavelength determined in these waves.
Responses

A crest to crestcrest to crest

B trough to troughtrough to trough

C compression to rarefactioncompression to rarefaction

D compression to compressioncompression to compression

1 answer

Question 1

To understand how the voices of astronauts are transmitted back to Earth, it's important to consider the nature of sound. Sound is a type of wave that travels through a medium, which typically requires particles to transfer the vibration that our ears interpret as sound.

  • Correct Response: C - mechanical waves

Sound waves are mechanical waves because they require a medium (such as air) to propagate. Even though sound can also be described with additional terms (like longitudinal), in the context of transmission back to Earth, "mechanical waves" is the best descriptor.

Question 2

The wavelength of a wave is typically determined by measuring the distance between specific points that repeat in the wave cycle. For sound waves, this is usually described in terms of compression and rarefaction, while for electromagnetic waves (like light), it's often measured from crest to crest or trough to trough.

  • Correct Response: C - compression to rarefaction

While the other options are valid ways to measure wavelength in different types of waves, "compression to rarefaction" specifically pertains to sound waves (longitudinal waves). The other options refer to concepts pertinent to transverse waves.

In summary:

  • Question 1: C - mechanical waves
  • Question 2: C - compression to rarefaction