ASVAB General Science Sound Waves Practice Test 61647 Results

Your Results Global Average
Questions 5 5
Correct 0 3.34
Score 0% 67%

Review

1

Sound travels fastest through which of the following media?

49% Answer Correctly

metal

vacuum

air

water


Solution

The speed of a sound wave will vary with the medium.  Sound travels fastest through media that has particles that are very close together, like metal. Thus, it travels faster through water than through air and doesn't travel at all through a vacuum (there are no particles in empty space to vibrate).


2

A major difference between sound waves and light waves is which of the following?

71% Answer Correctly

a sound wave is much slower than a light wave

a sound wave cannot travel through a vacuum

all of these are correct

a sound wave is mechanical while a light wave is electromagnetic


Solution

A vibrating object produces a sound wave that travels outwardly from the object through a medium (any liquid or solid matter). The vibration disturbs the particles in the surrounding medium, those particles disturb the particules next to them, and so on, as the sound propagates away from the vibration.


3

The rate of vibration of sound is called:

83% Answer Correctly

volume

amplitude

period

frequency


Solution

The rate of vibration of sound is called frequency and is measured in hertz (Hz). One hertz is one repetition per second and sounds with high frequency have a higher pitch than sounds with lower frequency. Humans can hear sounds in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.


4

Which of the following is not a medium for sound waves?

60% Answer Correctly

solid

none of these is a medium for sound waves

vacuum

liquid


Solution

A vibrating object produces a sound wave that travels outwardly from the object through a medium (any liquid or solid matter). The vibration disturbs the particles in the surrounding medium, those particles disturb the particules next to them, and so on, as the sound propagates away from the vibration.


5

The pitch of the siren of an approaching ambulance changes as it approaches you. This is an example of which of the following?

71% Answer Correctly

refraction

sound radiation

reflection

Doppler effect


Solution

The Doppler effect occurs when the source or listener (or both) of sound waves is moving. If they're moving closer together, the listener perceives the sound with a higher pitch and, when they're moving apart, the listener perceives the sound with a lower pitch.