Comparing Waves

Question

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

Answer 1

Question 1:

PART A
How are the voices of astronauts transmitted back to Earth?
Responses:
A. sound waves
B. transverse waves
C. mechanical waves
D. longitudinal waves

Correct Answer:
C. mechanical waves

Explanation: Sound cannot travel through the vacuum of space, but when astronauts are in the International Space Station (which has an atmosphere), their voices are transmitted as mechanical waves through air. Sound waves can also be classified as longitudinal waves.

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Question 2:

PART B
Compare the two waves seen here. All BUT ONE answer describes how the wavelength is determined in these waves.
Responses:
A. crest to crest
B. trough to trough
C. compression to rarefaction
D. compression to compression

Correct Answer:
C. compression to rarefaction

Explanation: Wavelength in mechanical waves such as sound waves (longitudinal) is measured from one compression to the next compression or from one rarefaction to the next rarefaction. In transverse waves, it is typically measured from crest to crest or trough to trough. "Compression to rarefaction" does not accurately describe the method for determining wavelength in a consistent manner.