Properties of waves

Light waves and water waves can both be reflected.

A student used a ray box and a mirror to investigate the reflection of light.

Figure 1 shows some of the apparatus used.

The student measured angle A and angle B.

What equipment should the student have used to measure each angle?

The student moved the ray box and changed the direction of the ray of light.

The student recorded different pairs of values of angle A and angle B.

Table 1 shows the results.

Figure 2 shows an incomplete graph of the results.

Complete Figure 2.

You should:

• label the y-axis

• plot the remaining data from Table 1

• draw a line of best fit.

What is the relationship between angle A and angle B ?

Tick (✓) one box.

Figure 3 represents a water wave.

Which letter represents the amplitude of the water wave in Figure 3 ?

Tick (✓) one box.

Which letter represents the wavelength of the water wave in Figure 3 ?

Tick (✓) one box.

A water wave in a ripple tank has a wave speed of 0.125 m/s.

The wave has a frequency of 2.5 Hz.

Calculate the wavelength of the wave.

Use the equation:

Choose the unit from the box.

The wave has a frequency of 2.5 Hz.

Calculate the period of the wave.

Use the equation:

In a thunderstorm, lightning produces visible light waves and sound waves.

Describe the similarities and differences between visible light waves and sound waves.

Use the Physics Equations Sheet to answer questions 08.2 and 08.3.

Which equation links distance (s), speed (v) and time (t)?

Tick (✓) one box.

Lightning strikes the ground 13 200 m from a student.

The speed of sound in air is 330 m/s.

Calculate the time taken for the sound created by the lightning strike to reach the student.

Figure 7 represents a transverse wave.

Which arrow represents the amplitude of the wave?

Tick (✓) one box.

Which arrow represents the wavelength of the wave?

Tick (✓) one box.

A wave has a frequency of 5000 Hz.

Calculate the period of the wave.

Use the equation:

Give one example of a transverse wave that can travel through a vacuum.

Figure 8 represents a longitudinal wave.

Which point is at the centre of a rarefaction?

Tick (✓) one box.

A sound wave has a frequency of 750 Hz.

speed of sound in air = 330 m/s

Calculate the wavelength of the sound wave.

Use the equation:

Describe a method that could be used to determine the speed of sound in air.

When a sound wave moves from air into water, the speed of the wave increases.

The frequency of the sound wave does not change.

Complete the sentence.

Choose the answer from the box.

When a sound wave moves from air into water its

The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean.

Figure 8 shows a submarine going to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

The depth of the submarine increases.

Explain what happens to the pressure on the submarine.

The submarine moved from the surface of the water to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

The change in pressure was 110 000 kPa.

mean density of sea water = 1026 kg/m³

gravitational field strength = 9.8 N/kg

Calculate the depth of the Mariana Trench.

Use the Physics Equations Sheet.

Earthquakes often occur at the Mariana Trench.

P-waves and S-waves are produced by earthquakes.

Which statement describes P-waves and S-waves?

Tick () one box.

Figure 9 shows the layers inside the Earth.

An earthquake occurs at the position shown.

Which letter shows the position where only P-waves will be detected?

Give a reason for your answer.

Tick () one box.

An S-wave has a frequency of 3.6 Hz.

The S-wave has a speed of 4.5 km/s.

Calculate the wavelength of this S-wave.

Use the Physics Equations Sheet.

A seismometer is a device that detects earthquakes.

P-waves travel at a known speed between an earthquake and a seismometer.

S-waves travel at a slower speed than P-waves.

A P-wave and an S-wave from the earthquake arrive at the seismometer at different times.

Describe the relationship between the distance from the earthquake to the seismometer and the time between the P-wave and the S-wave arriving.

Figure 5 shows the magnetic field pattern produced when there is a current in a wire.

What do the arrows on the magnetic field lines represent?

How could the strength of the magnetic field be increased? Tick (✓) one box.

The wire is coiled to make a solenoid. Which diagram in Figure 6 shows the magnetic field pattern produced when there is a current in the solenoid?

Figure 7 shows the parts of an electric bell.

Figure 8 shows an incomplete sequence of how the bell works.

Write one letter in each box to show the correct sequence. Use each letter once. A A magnetic field is created around the electromagnet. B A resultant force acts on the iron arm causing it to move towards the electromagnet. C The iron arm returns to its original position. D There is a current in the circuit.

Which of the following would increase the resultant force on the iron arm? Tick (✓) one box.

The iron arm of the bell vibrates with a frequency of 6.25 Hz. Calculate the period of the iron arm. Use the equation:

The sound waves produced by the bell are longitudinal waves. Figure 9 shows the position of the air particles at one point in time as the sound waves travel through the air.

Which letter represents an area of compression? Tick (✓) one box.

Electromagnetic waves are transverse. Figure 13 represents a transverse wave.

Which of the following gives the wavelength of the transverse wave? Tick (✓) one box.

Which of the following gives the amplitude of the transverse wave? Tick (✓) one box.

Microwaves are electromagnetic waves used for mobile phone communications. Which other type of electromagnetic wave is also used for communications? Tick (✓) one box.

Microwaves from a mobile phone take 0.000 009 s to reach a mobile phone mast. speed of microwaves = 300 000 000 m/s Calculate the distance between the mobile phone and the mobile phone mast. Use the equation: distance = speed × time

Mobile phone communications is only one of the uses for microwaves. Give one other use of microwaves.

A student investigated the refraction of light through a glass block. Figure 14 shows the ray box used. The student aimed the beam of light from the ray box towards a glass block. The student measured the angle of incidence at the point where the light entered the glass block.

Why is using a wide beam of light less likely to give accurate results than using a narrow beam? Tick (✓) one box.

Figure 15 shows the beam of light incident on the glass block.

Complete Figure 15 to show the path taken by the beam of light through the glass block and back into the air.

Figure 16 shows the protractor used by the student.

What is the resolution of the protractor? Tick (✓) one box.

For one angle of incidence the student measured the angle of refraction three times. The three measurements were: 35° 31° 33° Calculate the mean angle of refraction.

The student placed a red filter in front of the white beam of light. Only red light passes through the filter.

Complete the sentence.

When white light is incident on the red filter, all colours except for red are

Use the Physics Equations Sheet to answer questions 06.6 and 06.7.

Light has a wave speed of 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s in air. The frequency of the red light is 4.0 × 10¹⁴ Hz. Calculate the wavelength of the red light in air.

Figure 15 shows the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting the Earth.

What name is given to objects that orbit a planet?

A space telescope uses microwaves to communicate with the Earth. A microwave has a wavelength of 12.5 cm. The speed of microwaves through space is 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s. Calculate the frequency of the microwave. Use the Physics Equations Sheet. Give your answer in standard form.

Explain the effect of the Earth’s gravitational force on the motion of the Hubble Space Telescope.

The Hubble Space Telescope can detect visible light from distant galaxies. The visible light spectra from stars and galaxies include dark lines at specific wavelengths. Figure 16 shows the visible light spectra from the Sun and two galaxies.

Explain what conclusions can be made about galaxies A and B.

Sound travels as longitudinal waves.

Complete the sentences.

Choose the answers from the box.

The distance between the centre of one compression of a sound wave and the centre

of the next compression is called the.

The number of waves passing a point each second is called the

Complete the sentence.

Choose the answer from the box.

to the direction of energy transfer.

A sound wave has a frequency of 8.0 kHz.

Which of the following is the same as 8.0 kHz?

Tick (✓) one box.

Calculate the period of a sound wave with a frequency of 8.0 kHz.

Use the Physics Equations Sheet.

Calculate the wavelength of a sound wave with a frequency of 6600 Hz.

speed of sound = 330 m/s

Use the equation:

Choose the unit from the box.

Figure 14 shows the arrangement of two loudspeakers at a concert venue.

The loudspeakers in Figure 14 are tested by playing the same song through both loudspeakers.

A sound technician listens to the song.

Use the Physics Equations Sheet to answer questions 07.6 and 07.7.

Write down the equation which links distance (s), speed (v) and time (t).

Distance A on Figure 14 is 13.2 m.

speed of sound = 330 m/s

Calculate the time taken for the sound to travel from loudspeaker A to the technician.

The sound from each loudspeaker travels at the same speed.

For the sound technician to hear the song clearly, the sound from loudspeaker B should be emitted slightly before the sound from loudspeaker A.

Explain why.

Figure 1 shows a water wave.

What type of wave is a water wave? Tick (✓) one box.

Which statement describes the movement of the water at point X ? Tick (✓) one box.

The wave has a frequency of 2.0 hertz. The wavelength is 0.032 metres. Calculate the wave speed. Use the equation: wave speed = frequency × wavelength Choose the unit from the box.

What is transferred by all waves? Tick (✓) one box.

Figure 2 shows four water waves. The waves are all drawn to the same scale. The waves all travel at the same speed.

Which wave has the longest wavelength? Tick (✓) one box.

Which wave has the highest frequency? Tick (✓) one box.

Ultraviolet is a type of electromagnetic wave.

Give one use of ultraviolet.

An ultraviolet wave has a wavelength of 300 nanometres. Which of the following is equal to 300 nanometres? Tick (✓) one box.

The speed of ultraviolet waves is 3 × 10⁸ m/s. Calculate the frequency of the ultraviolet wave. Use your answer to Question 05.2

Table 1 gives the wavelength of an ultraviolet wave and three other electromagnetic waves.

Draw one line from each wave to the name of the wave.

Electromagnetic waves are transverse. Some other types of wave are longitudinal.

Describe the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves.

A teacher demonstrated some features of waves using a ripple tank. Figure 10 shows the ripple tank.

The teacher measured the time taken for 10 wave fronts to pass the mark. The teacher repeated this measurement three times and calculated the mean. What is the advantage of repeating measurements and calculating a mean?

The teacher’s measurements for the time taken for 10 wave fronts to pass the mark were: 8.4 s 7.8 s 8.1 s Calculate the mean frequency of the wave. Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

In a different investigation, the teacher wanted to determine the speed of water waves in the ripple tank. The teacher did not measure the wavelength of the wave. Explain how the teacher could determine the speed of the wave.

Figure 2 shows some waves.

Which arrow represents the wavelength of the waves? Tick (✓) one box.

Which arrow represents the amplitude of the waves? Tick (✓) one box.

The waves have a frequency of 0.20 hertz. Calculate the period of the waves. Use the equation:

The frequency of the waves is increased. The speed of the waves stays the same. What happens to the wavelength of the waves? Tick (✓) one box.

A student investigated how the speed of water waves is affected by the depth of water in a tray. Figure 3 shows some water in a rectangular tray.

The student lifted one end of the tray and then dropped it. This made a wave which travelled the length of the tray.

The student measured the length of the tray. What else should the student measure in order to calculate the speed of the wave? Tick (✓) one box.

What was the independent variable in this investigation?

Figure 4 shows the results.

Give one conclusion that can be made from Figure 4.

What was the speed of a wave when the depth of water was 2.5 cm? Speed of wave = m/s

Figure 8 shows a student playing with a remote-controlled car.

The remote control transmits radio waves to the car aerial. The transmitted radio waves have a frequency of 320 MHz. speed of radio waves = 3.0 10⁸ m/s Calculate the wavelength of the radio waves. Give the unit.

The car aerial is connected to an electrical circuit in the car. Describe what happens in the electrical circuit when the car aerial absorbs radio waves.

The car produces sound waves. Give two ways in which radio waves are different to sound waves.

Figure 9 shows the distance-time graph for the first 30 seconds of the car’s motion.

Describe the motion of the car during the first 30 seconds.

Determine the speed of the car 20 seconds after it started to move.

A different car accelerated from 0.12 m/s to 0.52 m/s. The acceleration of the car was 0.040 m/s². The work done to accelerate the car was 0.48 J. Calculate the resultant force needed to accelerate the car.

Explain why the car has a maximum speed.

Figure 23 shows the apparatus used to investigate the waves in a stretched string.

The frequency of the signal generator is adjusted so that the wave shown in Figure 23 is seen. At this frequency the string vibrates between the two positions shown in Figure 23.

The wavelength of the wave shown in Figure 23 was measured as 80 cm What piece of apparatus would have been suitable for measuring this wavelength?

Write down the equation which links frequency, wavelength and wave speed.

The string in Figure 23 vibrates at 55 Hz Calculate the wave speed of the wave shown in Figure 23. Use data given in Figure 23.

The frequency of the signal generator is increased. This makes the wavelength of the wave change. The wave speed stays the same. Describe how the apparatus could be adjusted to show one complete wave without reducing the frequency.

A student wants to investigate how the speed of a wave on a stretched string depends on the tension in the string. The student uses the apparatus in Figure 23. Describe a method the student could use for this investigation.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus used to investigate the waves in a stretched string.

The frequency of the signal generator is adjusted so that the wave shown in Figure 4 is seen. At this frequency the string vibrates between the two positions shown in Figure 4.

The wavelength of the wave shown in Figure 4 was measured as 80 cm What piece of apparatus would have been suitable for measuring this wavelength?

Write down the equation which links frequency, wavelength and wave speed.

The string in Figure 4 vibrates at 55 Hz Calculate the wave speed of the wave shown in Figure 4. Use data given in Figure 4.

The frequency of the signal generator is increased. This makes the wavelength of the wave change. The wave speed stays the same. Describe how the apparatus could be adjusted to show one complete wave without reducing the frequency.

A student wants to investigate how the speed of a wave on a stretched string depends on the tension in the string. The student uses the apparatus in Figure 4. Describe a method the student could use for this investigation.

Figure 2 shows a ripple tank that a student used to investigate water waves.

The student adjusted the speed of the motor so that the bar hit the water more times each second. What happened to the frequency of the waves produced? Tick one box.

Describe how the frequency of the water waves in the ripple tank can be measured.

The student measured the frequency of the water waves as 5 hertz. Calculate the period of the water waves. Use the equation:

Choose the unit. metres metres / second seconds

P-waves and S-waves are two types of seismic wave caused by earthquakes.

Which one of the statements about P-waves and S-waves is correct? Tick one box.

Seismometers on the Earth’s surface record the vibrations caused by seismic waves. Figure 16 shows the vibration recorded by a seismometer for one P-wave.

Figure 16

Calculate the frequency of the P-wave shown in Figure 16.

Write down the equation which links frequency, wavelength and wave speed.

The P-wave shown in Figure 16 is travelling at 7200 m/s. Calculate the wavelength of the P-wave.

Explain why the study of seismic waves provides evidence for the structure of the Earth’s core.

P-waves and S-waves are two types of seismic wave caused by earthquakes.

Which one of the statements about P-waves and S-waves is correct? Tick one box.

Seismometers on the Earth’s surface record the vibrations caused by seismic waves. Figure 3 shows the vibration recorded by a seismometer for one P-wave.

Calculate the frequency of the P-wave shown in Figure 3.

Write down the equation which links frequency, wavelength and wave speed.

The P-wave shown in Figure 3 is travelling at 7200 m/s. Calculate the wavelength of the P-wave.

Explain why the study of seismic waves provides evidence for the structure of the Earth’s core.

Figure 4 shows a simple seismometer made by a student.

To test that the seismometer works, the student pushes the bar magnet into the coil and then releases the bar magnet.

Why does the movement of the bar magnet induce a potential difference across the coil?

Why is the induced potential difference across the coil alternating?

Figure 5 shows how the potential difference induced across the coil varies after the bar magnet has been released.

Which statement describes the movement of the magnet when the induced potential difference is zero? Tick one box.

The seismometer cannot detect small vibrations. Suggest two changes to the design of the seismometer that would make it more sensitive to small vibrations.