Answer Key with Questions

Lesson Check: Communicating With Signals

1) Sign language and written language are examples of signals used to communicate.

True

False

Correct Answer
True

2) Before a signal is sent, it must be decoded.

True

False

Correct Answer
False

3) Electronic signals can travel very long distances in fibers, due to

total internal reflection.

Correct Answer
optical

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Communicating With Signals

4) What do all signals that are used to communicate have in common?

A) They all involve light waves.

B) They all send information.
C) They all use printed words.
D) They all use a series of sounds.

Correct Answer
B) They all send information.

5) What is a disadvantage of using radio waves to transmit information?

A) They do not permanently move matter.

B) They can travel over long distances.
C) They can be varied to hold information.
D) They lose energy as they travel through mediums.

Correct Answer
D) They lose energy as they travel through mediums.

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Communicating With Signals

6) How does noise affect a signal?

A) It causes the signal to deteriorate.

B) It amplifies the signal.
C) It allows the signal to travel further.
D) It changes the signal as it moves from one medium to another.

Correct Answer
A) It causes the signal to deteriorate.

7) Which correctly orders the steps of communication using signals?

A) encode, transmit, decode

B) transmit, encode, decode
C) decode, transmit, encode
D) transmit, decode, encode

Correct Answer
A) encode, transmit, decode

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Communicating With Signals

8) Identify three devices that were developed to send or receive signals carried by
electromagnetic waves.

Correct Answer
Answers may vary.

Explanation

Sample answers: cell phone, radio, garage door opener

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Communicating With Signals

9) All of the following are types of electromagnetic waves that can be used to transmit
signals except ________________.

A) sound waves
B) light waves
C) radio waves
D) microwaves

Correct Answer
A) sound waves

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Communicating With Signals

10) Describe three characteristics of electromagnetic waves that make them useful for
transmitting signals.

Correct Answer
Answers may vary.

Explanation

Electromagnetic waves travel very fast. This means that signals can be sent with very little
delay between transmitting and receiving. Electromagnetic waves do not need a medium
through which to travel. This means that they can be sent through space, if necessary.

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Communicating With Signals

Electromagnetic waves can be easily modulated. This is necessary for them to be used to
carry information that can be decoded.

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Extended-Response Rubric
Level of
Evidence of Understanding
Understanding
Student response provides clear evidence of using the dimensions* to make sense of
scientific phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems. Student is able to:
Demonstrating ▪ list three characteristics of electromagnetic waves that make them suitable for
3 Expected transmitting signals
Understanding
AND
▪ correctly describe the characteristics and identify why they are suitable for this purpose

Student response provides partial evidence of using the dimensions* to make sense
of scientific phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems. The response lacks
some critical information and details or contains some errors. Student is able to:
▪ identify three characteristics of electromagnetic waves
Progressing
OR
2 toward
Understanding ▪ correctly describe why one or two characteristics make electromagnetic waves
suitable for transmitting signals

Beginning
Student response is incomplete or provides minimal evidence of using the dimensions* to
1 to Develop
make sense of scientific phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems.
Understanding

Student does not respond or student response is inaccurate, irrelevant, or contains

Not Showing
0 insufficient evidence of using the dimensions* to make sense of scientific phenomena
Understanding
and/or to design solutions to problems.

*As outlined in the Performance Expectations (PE) of the NGSS, the three dimensions are the disciplinary core ideas (DCI), science and engineering
practices (SEP), and crosscutting concepts (CCC). Note that due to the complexity of the PEs, individual assessment items may not address all three
dimensions.

Scoring Notes:
Possible answers include:
Electromagnetic waves travel very fast. This means that signals can be sent with very little delay between transmitting
and receiving. Electromagnetic waves do not need a medium through which to travel. This means that they can be sent
through space, if necessary. Electromagnetic waves can be easily modulated. This is necessary for them to be used to
carry information that can be decoded.