Superposition & Stationary Waves (OCR AS Physics)

Exam Questions

1 hour15 questions
11 mark

This question is about a progressive wave and a stationary wave.

Which statement is correct?

  • A progressive wave has at least one node.

  • All progressive waves are longitudinal.

  • All particles oscillating between two adjacent nodes in a stationary wave are in phase.

  • The superposition of two waves travelling in the same direction produces a stationary wave.

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11 mark

Coherent radio waves from transmitters X and Y are emitted in phase. The waves interfere constructively at point Z.

q4-paper-2-june-2019-ocr-a-level-physics

The distance XZ is 16.0 m and the distance YZ is 20.0 m.
The radio waves have wavelength lambda.

Which value of lambda is not possible?

  • 1.0m

  • 2.0m

  • 3.0m

  • 4.0m

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21 mark

A stationary sound wave, in its fundamental mode of vibration, is formed in a tube open at both ends.

q11-paper-2-nov-2020-ocr-a-level-physics

The length of the tube is 0.17 m. The speed of sound in air is 340 m s−1.

Which row for this stationary wave is correct?

  Number of nodes Frequency of stationary wave / Hz
A 1 500
B 1 1000
C 2 1000
D 2 2000

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    31 mark

    Monochromatic light from a laser is incident normally on a diffraction grating.
    A series of bright dots are formed on a distant screen.

    Which two terms can be used to explain these bright dots?

    • diffraction, interference

    • reflection, interference

    • refraction, diffraction

    • refraction, reflection

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    41 mark

    A double-slit is used in an interference experiment to independently investigate the light from two sources K and L. The light from the sources have different wavelengths.
    The table below shows some data.

    Light source Wavelength of light Separation between adjacent bright fringes Distance between screen and double‐slit
    K λ 1.2 mm D
    L 0.80λ   0.50D


    What is the separation between adjacent bright fringes for source L?

    • 0.48 mm

    • 1.2 mm

    • 1.9 mm

    • 3.0 mm

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    51 mark

    The diagram below shows the graphs of displacement x against time t for two waves S and T.

    q11-paper-2-nov-2021-ocr-a-level-physics

    The waves meet at a point in space.
    The superposition of these two waves produces a resultant wave.

    What is the frequency f and the amplitude A of the resultant wave?

    • f = 100 Hz, A = 2.0 mm

    • f = 100 Hz, A = 4.0 mm

    • f = 200 Hz, A = 2.0 mm

    • f = 200 Hz, A = 4.0 mm

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    61 mark

    Stationary waves are produced in a tube closed at one end and open at the other end. The fundamental frequency is 120 Hz.

    What is a possible frequency of a harmonic for this tube?

    • 60 Hz

    • 240 Hz

    • 360 Hz

    • 480 Hz

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    71 mark

    A vibrating tuning fork is held above the open end of a long vertical tube. The other end of the tube, which is also open, is immersed in a tank of water. The length L of the air column within the tube is changed by raising or lowering the tube.

    q4-paper-2-june-2018-ocr-a-level-physics

    The wavelength of sound from the vibrating tuning fork is 150.0 cm.

    What length L of air column will not produce a stationary wave within the tube?

    • 37.5 cm

    • 75.0 cm

    • 112.5 cm

    • 187.5 cm

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