Wave Test Study Guide

Amplitude

Crest
Wave Length

ONE WAVE

Trough
Vocabulary
Waves carry ENERGY NOT MATTER
Amplitude Height of the wave. It measures the energy of a transverse wave. The Volume of a sound.
a) measured from the equilibrium position to the top of a crest or the bottom
of a trough (see vertical arrow)
Wavelength Length of a single wave cycle (horizontal arrow double sided arrow). Related to frequency
(as wavelength gets shorter, frequency gets higher)
Frequency-Number of waves that pass a point in a given amount of time. The PITCH of a sound. The
sound gets higher as the frequency gets faster, the pitch gets lower as the frequency slows down.)
Medium The material through which the wave travels. (ex. Air, water, ground, string)
Pitch High sounds have a high pitch (high frequency, example birds tweeting), low sounds have a low
pitch (low frequency, example fog horn)
Volume The energy of a sound wave. The higher the amplitude the louder the sound.
Wave 1

Wave 2

Wave 3

Wave 4

Wave 1 has a lower frequency than Wave

2. This is because Wave 1 has fewer waves
in the same amount of time.
You can also say Wave 2 has a higher
frequency than Wave 1.
Wave 1 has a longer wavelength than wave
2.
Wave 2 has a shorter wavelength than wave
1.
Wave 2 would be a higher pitched sound.
Wave 2 has a lower amplitude than wave 3.
Wave 3 has a higher amplitude than wave
2.
Wave 2 would have a lower volume than
wave 3.
Compare Wave 3 to Wave 4 in terms of
wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.
Wave 3 has a higher frequency than wave 4
Wave 4 has a lower frequency than wave 3
Wave 3 has a shorter wavelength than wave 4
Wave 4 has a longer wavelength than wave 3
Wave 3 has a higher amplitude than wave 4
1
Wave 4 has a lower amplitude than wave 3.
______________________________________
______________________________________

Types of waves:
Label the Transverse Waves and Longitudinal Waves

Longitudinal

Transverse

Describe how Sound waves are formed:

The compression of molecules in air or another medium.
___________________________________________________________________________

Radio/Satellite Waves (Communication, Weather, Navigation)

Light (We will be studying this deeper after

Thanksgiving, all you need to know is that
light/radiation is a type of wave).

Wave Test Study Guide

Vocabulary

WORD BANK:
ENERGY Amplitude

Wavelength Frequency

Medium

Pitch Volume

1. Waves carry _____________________ NOT MATTER

2. ___________________ Height of the wave. It measures the energy of
a transverse wave. The Volume of a sound. Measured from the
equilibrium position to the top of a crest or the bottom of a trough (see
vertical arrow)
3. ___________________ Length of a single wave cycle (horizontal arrow
double sided arrow). Related to frequency (as wavelength gets shorter,
frequency gets higher)
4. ___________________-Number of waves that pass a point in a given
amount of time. The PITCH of a sound. The sound gets higher as the
frequency gets faster, the pitch gets lower as the frequency slows down.)
5. ___________________ The material through which the wave travels.
(ex. Air, water, ground, string)
6. ___________________ High sounds have a high pitch (high frequency,
example birds tweeting), low sounds have a low pitch (low frequency,
example fog horn)

7. ___________________ The energy of a sound wave. The higher the

amplitude the louder the sound
PRACTICE
WORD BANK:

Lower Fewer Higher

Higher Volume
Wave 1

Wave 2

Wave 3

Wave 4

Longer

Shorter Pitched Lower

Wave 1 has a
_______________frequency than
Wave 2. This is because Wave 1 has
____________ waves in the same
amount of time.
You can also say Wave 2 has a
_______________frequency than
Wave 1.
Wave 1 has a ___________
wavelength than wave 2.
Wave 2 has a ____________
wavelength than wave 1.
Wave 2 would be a higher
______________sound.
Wave 2 has a
____________amplitude than wave
3.
Wave 3 has a ______________
amplitude than wave 2.
Wave 2 would have a lower
______________ than wave 3.
Compare Wave 3 to Wave 4 in terms of
wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
4

Types of waves:
1. Label the Transverse Waves and Longitudinal Waves

_________________________

_________________________

2. Describe how Sound waves are formed:

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

3. Radio/Satellite Waves (Types of Satellites: Communication, Weather, Navigation, Deep

Space Pictures)

4. Light (We will be studying this deeper

after Thanksgiving, all you need to
know is that light/radiation is a type
of wave).