Transverse, longitudinal and sound waves

Grade 8 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Ari ties a long rope to a post and shakes the free end up and down. A wave runs along the rope. Which type of wave is it?

   • Neither type
   • Longitudinal: each bit moves up and down
   • Transverse
   • Longitudinal: the wave moves along the rope
2. 2.

   Bo stretches a toy spring on the floor and pushes one end in and out. Bunches of coils travel along it. Which type of wave is it?

   • Longitudinal
   • Transverse: the coils move back and forth along it
   • Neither: springs just bounce
   • Transverse: the spring wiggles
3. 3.

   Esme plucks a guitar string. Each bit of string moves side to side while the wave runs along the string. Which type of wave is on the string?

   • A sound wave in air
   • Longitudinal: the wave runs along the string
   • Longitudinal: the bits move side to side
   • Transverse
5. 4.

   Jun labels a drawing of a wave on a spring. Which letter marks a compression?

   • A
   • C
   • B
6. 5.

   In the same spring drawing, what does letter B mark, Kira?

   Use the picture in question 4.

   • A crest of the wave
   • One wavelength
   • A compression: coils spread apart
   • A rarefaction: coils spread apart
7. 6.

   Luz looks at arrow C in the spring drawing. What does arrow C show?

   Use the picture in question 4.

   • The wave's speed
   • The amplitude
   • One wavelength
   • Half a wavelength
8. 7.

   Milo plays a violin for the class (only slightly squeaky). Which of these is a transverse wave?

   • The sound in the air of the room
   • The wave on the violin string
   • Squeezes of air moving out to the audience
   • A push traveling along a toy spring
9. 8.

   Noah rings a bell at the start of a school play. Which of these is a longitudinal wave?

   • A ripple across the stage curtain
   • A wave shaken along a rope
   • The sound of the bell in the air
   • The light from the stage lamps
10. 9.

    Ren wonders about the nearly empty space between Earth and the Moon. Can sound travel across it?

    • Yes, but just as a whisper
    • No: sound needs matter to travel through
    • No: the Moon blocks it
    • Yes: sound can cross empty space
11. 10.

    Sunlight crosses space to reach Tala, but no sound from the Sun does. Why not?

    • The Sun's sound is just too quiet to hear
    • Light needs no matter; sound does
    • Sunlight blocks the sound
    • Sound is too slow to arrive yet