Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

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Wave Characteristics (DP IB Physics: SL)

Exam Questions

3 hours44 questions
1
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1 mark

Wavefront diagrams can be used to indicate the frequency of waves. 

Which wave has the lowest frequency?

4-3-q1-sl-easy-mcq-phy

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    2
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    1 mark

    Which of the following statements is the correct description of a ray?

    • The net displacement of a medium when two waves meet

    • A line that joins all the points on a wave that have the same phase

    • A line that indicates the direction of energy propagation

    • A line that indicates the plane of the oscillation of the electric field

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    3
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    1 mark

    A spherical wave emitted from a point source has an intensity, I, at a distance, r.

    The relationship between intensity and the distance from the point source is given by

    Ifraction numerator P over denominator 4 straight pi r squared end fraction

    What is the intensity of the wave at a distance of 3r?

    • I over 3

    • I over 4

    • I over 9

    • 3 I

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    4
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    1 mark

    Which phrase completes the following sentence about the relationship between the amplitude A and the intensity I of a wave?

    The intensity of a wave is:

    • Directly proportional to A

    • Directly proportional to A2

    • Inversely proportional to A

    • Inversely proportional to A2

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    5
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    Which statement correctly describes the principal of superposition?

    • When two waves meet the resultant polarisation will be the sum of the individual polarisations

    • When two waves meet the resultant wavelength will be the sum of the individual wavelengths

    • When two waves meet the resultant intensity will be the sum of the individual intensities

    • When two waves meet the resultant displacement will be the sum of the individual displacements

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    6
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    When two similar waves meet they superpose. 

    What is the correct resultant displacement for the superposition of the following waves?

    4-3-q6-image-sl-easy-mcq-phy

    4-3-q6-sl-easy-mcq-phy

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      7
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      1 mark

      Unpolarised light is passed through a polarising filter as shown in the diagram. 

      4-3-q7-sl-easy-mcq-phy-1

      Which arrow shows the correct plane of the resulting polarised light?

      4-3-q7-sl-easy-mcq-phy

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        8
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        1 mark

        Unpolarised light with intensity I0 is passed through a polarising filter. 

        Which expression shows the correct value of the resulting polarised light?

        • I0

        • 2I0

        • I subscript 0 over 2

        • I0 cos2θ

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        9
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        1 mark

        A physicist passes unpolarised light through a polariser and then an analyser as shown. 

        4-3-q9-sl-easy-mcq-phy

        Which analyser does the physicist need to use so that the intensity of the analysed light is equal to the intensity of the polarised light?

        4-3-q9-sl-easy-mcq-phy-1

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          10
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          1 mark

          Which law determines the intensity of analysed light?

          • Hooke's Law

          • Snell's Law

          • Hubble's Law

          • Malus's Law

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          1
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          1 mark

          An unpolarised electromagnetic wave passes through 2 polarisers. The second polariser is at a clockwise angle a to the vertical.

          4-3-sl-mcq-hard-q1-phy

          When a = 225 ° what percentage of the unpolarised light is transmitted through both filters?

          • 25%

          • 50%

          • 12.5%

          • 6.25%

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          2
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          1 mark

          Cinema 3D glasses have polarising lenses aligned 90o from each other. The left eye contains a horizontal polariser and the right lens contains a vertical polariser.

          4-3-ib-sl-hard-mcqs-q2-question

          A person stands in front of a mirror and closes their left eye.

          How do the glasses appear in the mirror?

          • Both lenses black

          • The left lens is black

          • The right lens is black

          • Both lenses are clear

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          3
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          1 mark

          The diagram shows a wave moving along a rope under tension in the direction shown.

          4-3-ib-sl-hard-mcqs-q3-question-diagram-1

          Which of the following graphs, A to D, correctly shows the variation of displacement s with time t of the particle K in the rope?

          4-3-ib-sl-hard-mcqs-q3-question-diagram-2

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            4
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            1 mark

            Plane-polarised electromagnetic waves of radio frequency are transmitted by a vertical aerial and have an amplitude A. They are received by a second aerial rotated at angle theta compared to the transmitting aerial. 

            Which of the following expressions is proportional to the power received by the second aerial?

            • A cos theta

            • A cos squared theta

            • A squared cos squared theta

            • A squared cos theta

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            5
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            1 mark

            A beam of plane-polarised light of intensity I is incident at right-angles to a polariser. The transmitted light has an intensity of 1 fourth I

            What is the angle, theta, between the plane of polarisation of the incident light and the polariser?

            Use the values in the table to help.

            4-3-sl-mcq-hard-q5-phy

            • 30 °

            • 45 °

            • 60 °

            • square root of 2 over 3 end root °

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            6
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            1 mark

            A wave has frequency f, intensity I and amplitude A. The intensity of a wave is proportional to the square of the frequency.

            A second similar wave has frequency 2 fand amplitude 1 third A.

            Which of the following is an expression for the intensity of the second wave, I subscript 2?

            • 2 over 9 I

            • 2 over 3 I

            • 3 over 2 I

            • 4 over 9 I

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            7
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            1 mark

            Light from a lamp is incident on a polarising filter that has a horizontal transmission axis. The incident light has intensity I subscript 0 and the transmitted light has intensity I subscript 1. The filter is rotated by 2π.

            Which graph correctly shows the variation of the ratio I subscript 1 over I subscript 0 with angle theta?

            4-3-sl-mcq-hard-q8-phy

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              8
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              1 mark

              Identify the pair of statements which are always true for electromagnetic waves

              A.

              Always travel at the same speed in a vacuum

              Always obey the inverse square law

              B.

              Can undergo plane polarisation

              Consist of electric and magnetic fields which have constant amplitude

              C.

              Have predictable reduction in intensity when passed through a polarising filter

              Always travel at the same speed in a vacuum

              D.

              Consist of electric and magnetic fields which transfer energy

              Are always polarised

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                9
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                1 mark

                The intensity of radiation from a star is given by I subscript 0. The intensity of light at the surface of one of its planets, a distance r from the star is 0.25 I subscript 0. The distance between the star and a second planet is 3r

                What is the intensity of light from the star on this second planet?

                • I subscript 0 over 36

                • I subscript 0 over 12

                • I subscript 0 over 9

                • fraction numerator 4 I subscript 0 over denominator 9 end fraction

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                10
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                1 mark

                Light from the sun reflects off the surface of a pond. Some of the light continues into the water where it is refracted. 

                Which line in the table gives the correct nature of the reflected and refracted light?

                  Reflected Refracted
                A. unpolarised completely plane polarised
                B. completely plane polarised completely plane polarised at right angles to the reflected light
                C. partially plane polarised unpolarised
                D. partially plane polarised partially plane polarised

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                  1
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                  1 mark

                  Two polarisers have polarising axes that make an angle of 30° to each other. Unpolarised light of intensity I subscript 0 is incident on the first polariser. Light of intensity I subscript 1 passes between the first and second polarisers. After passing through the second polariser, light of intensity I subscript 2 emerges.

                  sin left parenthesis 30 right parenthesis space equals space 1 half

                  cos left parenthesis 30 right parenthesis space equals space fraction numerator square root of 3 over denominator 2 end fraction

                  tan left parenthesis 30 right parenthesis space equals space fraction numerator square root of 3 over denominator 3 end fraction

                  Considering the trigonometric ratios above, which line in the table correctly identifies the ratio I subscript 0 over I subscript 1 and I subscript 0 over I subscript 2?

                    begin mathsize 14px style bold italic I subscript bold 0 over bold italic I subscript bold 1 end style bold italic I subscript bold italic 0 over bold italic I subscript bold italic 2
                  A. 1 half 3 over 4
                  B. 1 half begin mathsize 16px style 3 over 8 end style
                  C. 3 over 4 3 over 8
                  D. 3 over 4 begin mathsize 16px style 3 over 4 end style

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                    2
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                    1 mark

                    A ripple tank is used to demonstrate the movement of progressive waves. In the tank, a wave is set in motion from left to right.

                    The wave is shown at time t = 0. Points X and Y on the wave have been marked.

                    q11_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

                    Which option correctly shows the displacement-time graphs for both X and Y?

                    q11-2_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

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                      3
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                      1 mark

                      Two microwave transmitters are arranged to ensure that their waves undergo superposition and create a stationary wave made up of nodes and antinodes.

                       

                      Which line correctly identifies the formula and a likely value for the minimum distance between the nodes of the stationary wave?

                       

                      formula

                      distance /cm

                      A.

                       c over f

                      30

                      B.

                       c over f

                      0.05

                      C.

                       fraction numerator c over denominator 2 f end fraction

                      30

                      D.

                       fraction numerator c over denominator 2 f end fraction

                      0.05

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                        4
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                        1 mark

                        Two pulses are travelling towards each other.

                        q13_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

                        What is a possible shape observed when the pulses undergo superposition?

                        q13-2_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

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                          5
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                          1 mark

                          Two wave fronts, each having amplitude A, travel towards each other, superpose, and continue with their motion.

                          What is the total amplitude during superposition and then the individual amplitudes following it?

                          q14_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

                           

                          total amplitude during superposition

                          individual amplitudes following superposition

                          A.

                          A

                          A

                          B.

                          2A

                          < A

                          C.

                          2A

                          A

                          D.

                          4A

                          > A

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                            6
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                            1 mark

                            Two waves which are in phase are produced by point sources at X and Y. The waves have amplitude A when they pass position Z.

                            In the arrangement shown, if the wavelength of the waves is 2 cm, what is the amplitude of the oscillation seen at Z?

                            q15_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

                            • 0

                            • A

                            • 2A

                            • A2

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                            7
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                            1 mark

                            A signal generator emits sound waves of amplitude A. The sound intensity at a distance d from the source is I.

                            What is the correct sound intensity detected at a distance  d over 3 from the source when the source emits waves of amplitude 3A?

                            • 1 over 81 l

                            • 1 over 9 l

                            • 9 l

                            • 81 l

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                            8
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                            1 mark

                            A beam of unpolarised light, I0, is incident on a polarising filter X. The filter has been set up so that its transmission axis is parallel to that of a second filter Y.

                            Filter X is rotated by an angle which is approximately 30o.

                            LzgAYvTl_q17_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

                            Which line correctly describes beam I2 being emitted from filter Y?

                             

                            polarisation

                            intensity

                            A.

                            no change

                            different

                            B.

                            different

                            different

                            C.

                            no change

                            no change

                            D.

                            different

                            no change

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                              9
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                              1 mark

                              Unpolarised light of intensity I0 is incident on the first of two polarising sheets. Initially the transmission axes are parallel.

                              q19_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

                              ­­Which sheet must be rotated and by what angle so that light of intensity begin mathsize 14px style 1 fourth end styleI0 emerges from the second sheet?

                              You may use the fact that

                              cos 45 =fraction numerator square root of 2 over denominator space space space 2 end fraction

                              cos 60 = 1 half

                              cos 90 = 0

                               

                              sheet

                              angle of rotation

                              A.

                              1 only

                              cos−1fraction numerator 2 over denominator square root of 2 end fraction

                              B.

                              1 and 2

                              cos−1fraction numerator square root of 2 over denominator space space space 2 end fraction

                              C.

                              1 or 2

                              cos−1fraction numerator square root of 2 over denominator space space space 2 end fraction

                              D.

                              2 only

                              cos−11 half

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                                10
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                                1 mark

                                The graph shows the displacement y, with distance x, of air molecules vibrating due to a sound wave of frequency 261 Hz travelling to the right.

                                Positive values of y indicate displacement of the particles to the right.

                                q20_1_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

                                Which row correctly shows the positions of a compression (C) and rarefaction (R) at the moment shown and then 3.8 × 10−3 seconds later?

                                 

                                0.0 seconds

                                3.8 × 10−3 seconds
                                 

                                C /cm

                                R /cm

                                C /cm

                                R /cm

                                A.

                                0.0

                                1.0

                                0.0

                                1.0

                                B.

                                1.0

                                2.0

                                2.0

                                3.0

                                C.

                                3.0

                                1.0

                                3.0

                                1.0

                                D.

                                3.0

                                1.0

                                4.0

                                2.0

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