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Quizzes > Science > Physics

Can You Master Waves, Light, Sound & Refraction?

Dive into our types of waves quiz and explore wave reflection, refraction, and sound phenomena.

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art wave light and sound icons over sky blue background quiz graphic prompting wave reflection and refraction challenge

Use this quick quiz to learn what a wave bouncing off of an object is called and practice reflection, refraction, and wave types. Tackle angle of reflection, light and sound through water and prisms, and longitudinal vs transverse questions, then review energy transfer in how waves carry energy - great to spot gaps before a quiz or exam.

What is the term for a wave bouncing back when it encounters an obstacle or boundary?
Diffraction
Reflection
Absorption
Refraction
When a wave encounters a boundary or obstacle and then reverses direction, this phenomenon is called reflection. Reflection occurs with all types of waves including sound, light, and water waves and follows predictable laws. It is distinct from refraction, which involves wave bending when entering a new medium. .
Which law states that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection?
Law of Reflection
Law of Refraction
Snell's Law
Huygens' Principle
The Law of Reflection specifies that the angle at which a wave hits a boundary (angle of incidence) is equal to the angle at which it reflects (angle of reflection). This law applies to all types of waves reflecting off surfaces. It is not to be confused with Snell's Law, which governs refraction. .
What type of reflection produces clear images by reflecting light in a single outgoing direction?
Total internal reflection
Diffuse reflection
Polarized reflection
Specular reflection
Specular reflection occurs when waves reflect off a smooth surface, maintaining the angle relationship and producing clear images. This is why mirrors and calm bodies of water can form sharp reflections. Diffuse reflection, in contrast, scatters light in many directions. .
Which type of reflection scatters light in many directions due to a rough surface?
Specular reflection
Phased reflection
Diffuse reflection
Polarized reflection
Diffuse reflection happens when light hits a rough or uneven surface and is scattered in multiple directions. This scattering prevents the formation of clear images and gives objects a matte appearance. It contrasts with specular reflection, which preserves the angle of reflection. .
What is the name of the angle between an incident ray and the normal to the surface?
Angle of reflection
Brewster's angle
Angle of incidence
Angle of refraction
The angle between the incoming wave (incident ray) and the imaginary line perpendicular to the surface (the normal) is called the angle of incidence. This angle is used to describe wave interactions such as reflection and refraction. It should not be confused with the angle of reflection, which is on the opposing side of the normal. .
What is the term for the angle between the reflected ray and the normal?
Critical angle
Angle of reflection
Angle of incidence
Brewster's angle
The angle between the reflected ray and the normal (a line perpendicular to the reflecting surface) is known as the angle of reflection. According to the law of reflection, this angle equals the angle of incidence. It is a fundamental parameter for describing reflected waves. .
What phenomenon is responsible for hearing an echo of your voice in a canyon?
Reflection of sound waves
Refraction of sound waves
Absorption of sound waves
Diffraction of sound waves
An echo occurs when sound waves bounce off a surface like canyon walls and return to the listener. This is a direct result of reflection of sound waves at the boundary. Refraction and diffraction involve bending and spreading, not the bouncing that creates echoes. .
What term describes the reflected sound you hear when a sound wave bounces off a distant surface?
Refraction
Resonance
Attenuation
Echo
An echo is the reflected sound you hear when a sound wave bounces off a distant surface and returns to the listener after a short delay. The human ear can distinguish an echo if the time gap is at least around 0.1 seconds. This delay causes a distinct repetition of the original sound. .
Which property of a wave remains unchanged when it reflects off a boundary?
Speed
Amplitude
Wavelength
Frequency
Upon reflection at a boundary in the same medium, a wave's frequency remains unchanged because the source determines frequency. Wavelength, amplitude, and speed can vary if the boundary conditions or medium properties differ. Maintaining frequency ensures energy conservation during reflection. .
What phase change does a wave undergo when it reflects from a free boundary?
Phase shift of 2?
Phase shift of ?/2
No phase change
Phase shift of ?
When a wave reflects off a free boundary (where the end can move), it does not undergo a phase change. This contrasts with reflection at a fixed boundary, which introduces a phase shift of ? (180°). The free end allows the reflected wave to maintain its original phase. .
What term describes the bending of waves when they pass from one medium into another?
Diffraction
Refraction
Interference
Reflection
Refraction is the bending of waves as they pass from one medium into another due to a change in wave speed. It is governed by Snell's Law, which relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the media's refractive indices. It differs from reflection, which involves bouncing at a boundary. .
What occurs when light attempts to move from water to air at an incident angle greater than the critical angle?
Diffuse scattering
Polarization
Partial absorption
Total internal reflection
When light travels from a denser medium like water into a less dense medium like air and strikes the boundary at an angle larger than the critical angle, it undergoes total internal reflection. No refraction into the air occurs under these conditions. This principle is key in fiber optics technology. .
What phase shift is introduced when a wave reflects off a fixed boundary?
?/2 radians
? radians
No phase shift
2? radians
At a fixed boundary, the wave's endpoint cannot move, causing the reflected wave to invert and gain a phase shift of ? radians (180°). This inversion is observable in wave pulses on strings fixed at one end. In contrast, reflection at a free boundary does not introduce a phase shift. .
Which of the following surfaces best demonstrates specular reflection?
Rough concrete
Carpet
Matte-painted wall
Polished metal
A polished metal surface is smooth on the scale of the wavelength of visible light, causing light rays to reflect at uniform angles and produce clear images. Matte-painted walls and rough surfaces scatter light in many directions, resulting in diffuse reflection. Carpet also absorbs and scatters light. .
Which optical device uses reflection to focus parallel light rays to a point?
Prism
Convex lens
Concave mirror
Plane mirror
A concave mirror curves inward like a cave, reflecting parallel incoming light rays to converge at its focal point. Convex lenses refract light, prisms disperse or reflect via internal reflection, and plane mirrors only produce virtual images without focusing. .
Which condition must be met for total internal reflection to occur when light travels between two media?
The light must go from a medium with lower refractive index to one with higher refractive index
The refractive indices must be equal
The light must go from a medium with higher refractive index to one with lower refractive index
The incident light must be unpolarized
Total internal reflection only occurs when light attempts to move from a denser medium (higher refractive index) into a less dense medium (lower refractive index) at angles greater than the critical angle. If the indices are equal or reversed, the light will refract rather than reflect totally. Polarization state does not determine the occurrence of TIR itself. .
At Brewster's angle, what is a unique property of the reflected light?
It has zero intensity
It is perfectly polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence
It undergoes total internal reflection
It is unpolarized
When light reflects at Brewster's angle, the reflected beam is perfectly polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence. At this angle, the reflected and refracted rays are at 90° to each other, eliminating parallel-polarized light. This is used in polarizing filters and glare reduction. .
What type of image is formed by a concave mirror when an object is placed between the focal point and the mirror?
Virtual, upright, and magnified
Real, upright, and reduced
Virtual, inverted, and reduced
Real, inverted, and magnified
If an object is located between a concave mirror's focal point and its surface, the reflected rays diverge such that they appear to originate from a point behind the mirror. This produces a virtual, upright, and magnified image. When placed beyond the focal point, the mirror produces real and inverted images. .
Which mathematical expression gives the critical angle for total internal reflection between two media with refractive indices n1 and n2 (n1 > n2)?
?c = arctan(n1 / n2)
?c = arcsin(n2 / n1)
?c = arcsin(n1 / n2)
?c = arccos(n2 / n1)
The critical angle ?c for total internal reflection when light travels from a medium of refractive index n1 to n2 (n1 > n2) is given by ?c = arcsin(n2 / n1). If the incidence angle exceeds ?c, the wave is totally reflected. The other forms do not correctly describe this relationship. .
What is the name of the phenomenon where radio waves reflect off the ionosphere to reach distant receivers?
Ground wave propagation
Skywave propagation
Waveguide effect
Line-of-sight transmission
Skywave propagation occurs when radio waves are reflected or refracted by the ionosphere, allowing them to travel beyond the horizon and reach distant receivers. Ground wave propagation travels along Earth's surface, and line-of-sight transmission involves direct paths without reflection. Waveguide effects involve confined paths such as in cables. .
What is the minimum distance a reflecting surface must be from a listener to clearly distinguish an echo, assuming the speed of sound is 343 m/s and a 0.1 s delay is needed?
3.4 meters
34 meters
1.7 meters
17 meters
To hear a distinct echo, the reflected sound must return after at least 0.1 seconds. With sound traveling at 343 m/s, the total path is 34.3 m (to and from the surface), so the surface must be about 17 m away. Shorter distances return the sound too quickly to be heard as a separate echo. .
Between which pair of media is the fraction of acoustic wave energy reflected the greatest due to impedance mismatch?
Air and oil
Water and oil
Steel and water
Air and water
The reflection coefficient for acoustic waves depends on the impedance mismatch between media. Air and water have a huge difference in acoustic impedance, causing nearly all the sound energy to reflect. Water - oil and water - steel mismatches are much smaller, resulting in lower reflection. .
According to the Fresnel equations, what fraction of power is reflected at normal incidence on a glass surface with refractive index 1.5?
2.5%
16%
25%
4%
At normal incidence, the reflectance R is given by ((n1?n2)/(n1+n2))^2. For air (n?1) to glass (n=1.5), R = ((1.5?1)/(1.5+1))^2 = (0.5/2.5)^2 = 0.04 or 4%. This formula comes from the Fresnel equations. .
What is the general expression for the reflection coefficient R (amplitude ratio) at normal incidence in terms of acoustic impedances Z1 and Z2?
R = (Z2 - Z1) / (Z2 + Z1)
R = (Z1 + Z2) / (Z2 - Z1)
R = (Z1 - Z2)
R = 2Z1 / (Z1 + Z2)
The amplitude reflection coefficient at normal incidence for acoustic waves is R = (Z2?Z1)/(Z2+Z1), where Z represents acoustic impedance of each medium. This coefficient determines the ratio of reflected to incident wave amplitude. The expression ensures sign and magnitude are consistent with impedance mismatch theory. .
What is the magnitude of the reflection coefficient when an electromagnetic wave encounters a perfect electrical conductor?
Infinity
0
1
-1
At a perfect electrical conductor boundary, the incident electromagnetic wave is entirely reflected, giving a reflection coefficient magnitude of 1. The phase may invert (giving a -1 sign), but the magnitude remains unity. No energy is transmitted into an ideal conductor. .
0
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Wave Reflection -

    Explain that a wave bouncing off of an object is called reflection and recognize examples in light and sound scenarios.

  2. Differentiate Wave Types -

    Compare longitudinal and transverse waves by their particle motion and apply this knowledge to classify wave examples.

  3. Explain Wave Refraction -

    Describe how waves bend when passing between media of different densities and predict the angle changes based on medium properties.

  4. Apply Wave Behaviors -

    Use core concepts of reflection and refraction to solve practical quiz questions involving wave interactions at boundaries.

  5. Reinforce Wave Knowledge -

    Review key terms and types of waves through scored questions, improving retention of wave reflection and refraction principles.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Reflection -

    A wave bouncing off of an object is called reflection, defined by the law of reflection: the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. This principle is core to wave reflection and refraction questions. Remember R = I as a quick way to recall equal angles of incidence and reflection.

  2. Types of Waves: Longitudinal vs Transverse -

    Longitudinal waves oscillate parallel to propagation, like sound waves in air, while transverse waves oscillate perpendicular to propagation, like light and water waves. A useful mnemonic is "Silly Elephants Like Trunks" (Sound = Longitudinal, Light = Transverse). Master these basics to ace the longitudinal transverse waves test in the types of waves quiz.

  3. Snell's Law of Refraction -

    When a wave passes between two media, refraction causes it to bend according to Snell's law: n₝ sin θ₝ = n₂ sin θ₂. Use the tip "Index up, angle down" to remember that a higher refractive index yields a smaller angle. This formula is a staple of light sound refraction quizzes and tests.

  4. Wave Speed Equation -

    The wave equation v = f λ links a wave's speed (v) to its frequency (f) and wavelength (λ), so you can calculate how fast sound travels at 343 m/s in air or determine visible light wavelengths. Plug in known values to solve practice problems quickly and confidently. Consistent review of v = f λ problems will boost your score on types of waves quizzes.

  5. Applications of Reflection -

    Reflection underpins technologies like sonar navigation and telescope mirrors, while bats use echolocation to navigate via sound reflection. Understanding these real-world examples cements your grasp of core wave behavior. Linking these applications to your light sound refraction quiz questions makes study more engaging and memorable.

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