Science Practice Questions - Physics

Why can\'t sound travel through space? Sound needs a medium to travel, and space is a vacuum with no particles to transmit sound waves. How does the amplitude of a wave affect its energy? A wave with a larger amplitude carries more energy. Why do objects appear bent when viewed underwater? Light w...

Why can\'t sound travel through space? Sound needs a medium to travel, and space is a vacuum with no particles to transmit sound waves. How does the amplitude of a wave affect its energy? A wave with a larger amplitude carries more energy. Why do objects appear bent when viewed underwater? Light waves refract as they move from air to water because they change speed. What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency? As frequency increases, wavelength decreases, and vice versa. How does echolocation work? Animals send out sound waves that reflect off objects, allowing them to determine distance and location. Why does a siren sound higher in pitch as it approaches you? Due to the Doppler Effect, the sound waves are compressed, increasing their frequency. How does a standing wave form? When a wave and its reflection interfere in a way that creates nodes and antinodes. What is the difference between constructive and destructive interference? Constructive interference increases amplitude, while destructive interference reduces it. Why do we hear echoes in large empty rooms? Sound waves reflect off hard surfaces and return to the listener. A \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ wave is an electromagnetic wave that consists of electric and magnetic fields vibrating perpendicular to each other. Electromagnetic The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ km/s. 300,000 The transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves is called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Radiation Light waves do not require a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to travel. Medium A wave with a shorter wavelength has a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ frequency. Higher The visible spectrum consists of the colors \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet The bending of light as it moves from one medium to another is called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Refraction A \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is a piece of glass that separates white light into different colors. Prism The process by which light bounces off a surface is called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Reflection The \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ of reflection states that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Law A material that allows most light to pass through is called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Transparent A material that scatters light as it passes through is called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Translucent A material that does not allow any light to pass through is called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Opaque A \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ lens is thicker in the middle and causes light to converge. Convex A \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ lens is thinner in the middle and causes light to diverge. Concave The colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil is called the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Iris The \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye where images form. Retina A person who can see nearby objects clearly but has trouble seeing distant objects is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Nearsighted A person who can see distant objects clearly but has trouble seeing nearby objects is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Farsighted The \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is a network of satellites used to determine precise locations on Earth. Global Positioning System (GPS) What are the two components of an electromagnetic wave? An electric field and a magnetic field, which vibrate perpendicular to each other. Why do we see a rainbow after a rainstorm? Raindrops act like prisms, refracting and dispersing sunlight into its component colors. How does the law of reflection apply to mirrors? It states that the angle at which light hits the mirror (angle of incidence) is equal to the angle at which it reflects (angle of reflection). What is the function of the cornea in the human eye? It helps focus light onto the retina. Why do objects appear bent when viewed underwater? Refraction occurs as light changes speed moving from water to air, causing the apparent bending. How does a magnifying glass make objects appear larger? It uses a convex lens to bend light rays and create a virtual, magnified image. Why do polarizing sunglasses reduce glare? They filter out light waves vibrating in certain directions, reducing reflected glare from surfaces like water or roads. What is the difference between a reflecting telescope and a refracting telescope? A reflecting telescope uses mirrors to collect and focus light, while a refracting telescope uses lenses. How do fiber-optic cables transmit information? They use total internal reflection to carry light signals over long distances with minimal loss. What is a hologram? A three-dimensional image created by using laser light to record and reconstruct an object\'s light waves.