WGU C165 INTEGRATED PHYSICAL SCIENCES
PRACTICE STUDY GUIDE 2026
◉ longitudinal wave. Answer: A wave in which the vibration of the
medium is parallel to the direction the wave travels. Compressed
◉ Compression. Answer: The part of a longitudinal wave where the
particles of the medium are close together.
◉ expansion. Answer: an increase in the volume of a substance
while its mass remains the same. Expansion is usually due to
heating. When substances are heated, the molecular bonds between
their particles are weakened, and the particles move faster, causing
the substance to expand.
◉ Rarefaction. Answer: The part of a longitudinal wave where the
particles of the medium are far apart
◉ Wavelength. Answer: The distance between two corresponding
parts of a wave
◉ Frequency. Answer: the number of complete wavelengths that
pass a point in a given time
,◉ Amplitude. Answer: the height of a wave's crest or how intense
◉ Crest. Answer: Highest point of a wave (peak)
◉ Trough. Answer: lowest point of a wavelength
◉ Period of a wave. Answer: Time for one complete waveform to
travel
◉ electromagnetic spectrum. Answer: All of the frequencies or
wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation
◉ radio waves. Answer: Electromagnetic waves with the longest
wavelengths and lowest frequencies
◉ microwave. Answer: very short electromagnetic wave; microwave
oven (oven that cooks quickly by using microwaves)
◉ Infrared. Answer: Electromagnetic waves of frequencies lower
than the red of visible light.
◉ visable light. Answer: portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
that is visible to the human eye.
, ◉ ultraviolet light. Answer: Electromagnetic radiation of several
wavelengths is used to control microbial growth
◉ X-ray. Answer: A form of energy that travels in waves that can pass
through some living tissue, but not through bone.
◉ gamma rays. Answer: Electromagnetic waves with the shortest
wavelengths and highest frequencies
◉ pitch. Answer: a tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends
on frequency
◉ Loudness. Answer: A physical response to the intensity of sound,
modified by physical factors
◉ Matter. Answer: Anything that has mass and takes up space
◉ Atom. Answer: Basic unit of matter
◉ Protron. Answer: partical that carries a positive charge
PRACTICE STUDY GUIDE 2026
◉ longitudinal wave. Answer: A wave in which the vibration of the
medium is parallel to the direction the wave travels. Compressed
◉ Compression. Answer: The part of a longitudinal wave where the
particles of the medium are close together.
◉ expansion. Answer: an increase in the volume of a substance
while its mass remains the same. Expansion is usually due to
heating. When substances are heated, the molecular bonds between
their particles are weakened, and the particles move faster, causing
the substance to expand.
◉ Rarefaction. Answer: The part of a longitudinal wave where the
particles of the medium are far apart
◉ Wavelength. Answer: The distance between two corresponding
parts of a wave
◉ Frequency. Answer: the number of complete wavelengths that
pass a point in a given time
,◉ Amplitude. Answer: the height of a wave's crest or how intense
◉ Crest. Answer: Highest point of a wave (peak)
◉ Trough. Answer: lowest point of a wavelength
◉ Period of a wave. Answer: Time for one complete waveform to
travel
◉ electromagnetic spectrum. Answer: All of the frequencies or
wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation
◉ radio waves. Answer: Electromagnetic waves with the longest
wavelengths and lowest frequencies
◉ microwave. Answer: very short electromagnetic wave; microwave
oven (oven that cooks quickly by using microwaves)
◉ Infrared. Answer: Electromagnetic waves of frequencies lower
than the red of visible light.
◉ visable light. Answer: portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
that is visible to the human eye.
, ◉ ultraviolet light. Answer: Electromagnetic radiation of several
wavelengths is used to control microbial growth
◉ X-ray. Answer: A form of energy that travels in waves that can pass
through some living tissue, but not through bone.
◉ gamma rays. Answer: Electromagnetic waves with the shortest
wavelengths and highest frequencies
◉ pitch. Answer: a tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends
on frequency
◉ Loudness. Answer: A physical response to the intensity of sound,
modified by physical factors
◉ Matter. Answer: Anything that has mass and takes up space
◉ Atom. Answer: Basic unit of matter
◉ Protron. Answer: partical that carries a positive charge
