praxis elementary science 5005 practice test

A series of tests developed by ETS to assess the skills and knowledge of prospective teachers.

The pitch of a sound is related to which of the following properties of a sound wave?
  • A. Speed
  • B. Frequency
  • C. Amplitude
  • D. Energy
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The pitch of a sound is directly related to its frequency, which refers to how many sound wave cycles occur in one second. Higher frequencies produce higher pitches, while lower frequencies result in lower pitches. Option A, speed, refers to how fast sound travels through a medium but does not affect pitch. Option C, amplitude, relates to the loudness or intensity of a sound rather than its pitch. Option D, energy, is associated with the overall power of the sound wave but does not determine pitch. Thus, frequency is the key property that defines the pitch of a sound.

Other Related Questions

Which of the following best predicts what will happen when white light passes through a green object?
  • A. The object will mostly reflect the green part of the light.
  • B. The object will mostly absorb the green part of the light.
  • C. The object will appear black.
  • D. The object will appear white.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

When white light passes through a green object, the object primarily reflects green wavelengths while absorbing others. This reflection causes the object to appear green to our eyes. Option B is incorrect because if the object absorbed the green part of the light, it would not appear green. Option C is not valid, as a black appearance would result from the object absorbing all wavelengths of light, not reflecting any. Option D is also wrong; an object appears white when it reflects all wavelengths of light equally, which does not apply to a green object.
Which TWO of the following statements about the universe are true?
  • A. The universe is expanding.
  • B. The Milky Way galaxy contains most of the stars in the universe.
  • C. A star's size, temperature, and composition typically remain constant throughout its life cycle.
  • D. A black hole is usually detected by the intense visible light it emits.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A accurately reflects current astronomical understanding, as evidence shows the universe is expanding due to the redshift of distant galaxies. Option B is incorrect; while the Milky Way is large, it contains only a small fraction of the universe's stars, which are spread across billions of galaxies. Option C is misleading; stars undergo significant changes in size, temperature, and composition throughout their life cycles, particularly during phases like red giant or supernova. Option D is also false; black holes do not emit visible light; they are detected through their gravitational effects and the radiation from material falling into them.
The speed of light in empty space, that is, a vacuum, is 300,000 km/s. The speed of sound in empty space is:
  • B. greater than 0 but less than 300,000 km/s
  • C. 300,000 km/s
  • D. greater than 300,000 km/s
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

The speed of sound requires a medium, such as air or water, to propagate; it cannot travel through a vacuum. Therefore, the speed of sound in empty space is effectively zero. Option B suggests that the speed of sound is greater than 0 but less than 300,000 km/s, which is incorrect because sound cannot exist in a vacuum. Option C states it is 300,000 km/s, which misrepresents sound's nature, as this speed is specific to light. Option D claims it is greater than 300,000 km/s, which is impossible since sound cannot travel in a vacuum at all. Thus, the only valid conclusion is that the speed of sound in empty space is zero.
Which of the following is an example of physical weathering?
Question image
  • A. The cracking of a rock caused by the freezing and thawing of water.
  • B. Sediments being transported in a stream.
  • C. A sandbar forming in a stream.
  • D. Acid rain dissolving a statue.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Physical weathering involves the mechanical breakdown of rocks without changing their chemical composition. Option A exemplifies this, as the freezing and thawing of water causes rocks to crack due to the expansion of ice, a clear physical process. Option B describes sediment transport, which is a process related to erosion rather than weathering. Option C refers to the formation of a sandbar, a depositional feature resulting from sediment accumulation, not weathering. Option D involves chemical weathering, where acid rain alters the chemical structure of the statue, distinguishing it from the physical processes in option A.