15 marks
Light and sound both travel as waves.
Draw a line from each statement to the correct term that describes it. One has been done for you.
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General Properties of Waves (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Physics)
Exam Questions
2 hours30 questions
2a2 marks
A ray of light refracts as it travels from air into glass, as shown in Fig.7.1.
(i) State which angle w, x, y or z, is the angle of refraction.
[1]
(ii) Light is a transverse wave. State another example of a transverse wave.
[1]
2b3 marks
Fig.7.2 represents some wavefronts approaching a barrier with a narrow gap.
(i) On Fig.7.2, draw three wavefronts that have passed through the gap.
[2]
(ii) State the name of the effect in (b)(i).
[1]
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3a2 marks
Fig. 8.1 represents the pressure at one instant along part of a sound wave.
(i) Determine the wavelength of the sound wave.
wavelength of the sound wave = .................................................. cm [1]
(ii) On Fig. 8.1, draw a wave representing a louder sound of the same wavelength.
[1]
3b2 marks
State the range of audible frequencies for a healthy human ear. Include the unit.
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4a2 marks
Complete the sentence which describes all waves.
Waves transfer ______ without transferring ______
4b5 marks
Select suitable labels for Fig. 1 by selecting from the list below.
Fig. 1
amplitude
crest
direction of oscillation
direction of travel of wave
frequency
time period
trough
wavelength
4c2 marks
For two of the quantities in the previous answer, state the correct unit for
(i) Amplitude.
[1]
(ii) Wavelength.
[1]
4d5 marks
A wave on a rope has a speed of 0.25 m/s and a time period of 2 seconds.
Calculate
(i) The frequency of the wave.
[2]
(ii) The wavelength of the wave.
[3]
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5a3 marks
For each label draw a straight line connecting it to the correct diagram.
5b2 marks
A wave of light is passing from air into a clear plastic prism. The wave is refracted.
State two changes which would make the angle of refraction inside the plastic prism increase.
5c2 marks
Extended tier only
A water wave is passing through a gap and being diffracted.
State two changes which would make the amount of diffraction decrease.
5d4 marks
Extended tier only
Fig. 1.1 shows a water wave meeting a barrier.
Fig 1.1
Complete the diagram to show the waves after they have passed the barrier.
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1a5 marks
Fig. 8.1 represents a travelling wave at an instant in time.
(i) Determine the amplitude of the wave.
amplitude = .................................................. cm [1]
(ii) Determine the wavelength of the wave.
wavelength = .................................................. cm [2]
(iii) It takes 2.0 s for a source to emit the wave shown in Fig. 8.1.
Calculate the frequency of the wave.
frequency = .................................................. Hz [2]
1b3 marks
Fig. 8.2 shows the main regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
(i) Two of the regions are not labelled.
Add the correct label to each of the unlabelled regions by writing in each box.
[2]
(ii) Describe one use of γ-rays.
[1]
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2a3 marks
Fig. 6.1 shows crests of a water wave moving from left to right in a harbour.
(i) On Fig. 6.1, draw three more crests to the right of point A.
[2]
(ii) State the name of the wave process that occurs as the wave passes point A.
[1]
2b5 marks
Fig. 6.2 shows the crests of another wave moving from left to right in a different part of the harbour. This wave moves from deep water to shallow water.
(i) On Fig. 6.2, draw an arrow to show the direction of movement of the wave after it has passed into the shallow water.
[1]
(ii) State the name of the process that occurs as the wave passes into the shallow water.
[1]
(iii) Complete Table 6.1 to state whether each of the properties of the wave increases, decreases or stays the same as the wave passes into the shallow water.
[3]
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3a3 marks
Fig. 6.1 represents a transverse wave drawn full size. Point X represents a point on the wave.
(i) On Fig. 6.1, mark clearly the directions in which point X moves.
[1]
(ii) Use Fig. 6.1 to measure the wavelength of the wave.
wavelength = ................................................... cm [1]
(iii) The frequency of the wave is increased. Describe how the wave pattern in Fig. 6.1 would be different.
[1]
3b2 marks
(i) Place a tick in a box next to any transverse wave.
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light
sound
radio
[1]
(ii) State a type of wave that cannot travel in a vacuum.
[1]
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4a3 marks
Sound is a longitudinal wave.
Sketch a representation of a longitudinal wave. On your sketch
• indicate and label a distance to show the wavelength, • mark and label the centre of one compression, • mark and label the centre of one rarefaction.
4b2 marks
A longitudinal wave passes from one medium into another medium. The speed of the wave is slower in the second medium.
State what happens to
(i) the frequency of the wave,
[1]
(ii) the wavelength of the wave.
[1]
4c1 mark
State a typical value for the speed of sound in air.
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53 marks
A ray of light travelling in air strikes a glass block at an angle of 30° to the normal. The light slows down as it enters the glass block.
State and explain, in terms of wavefronts, what happens to the light.
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14 marks
Describe a method of using water waves to demonstrate refraction.
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2a3 marks
Fig. 5.1 shows crests of a wave approaching a barrier where the wave is reflected.
On Fig. 5.1, draw three crests of the reflected wave.
2b3 marks
The wave has a wavelength of 36 cm and a speed of 1.2 m/s.
Calculate the frequency of the wave.
frequency = .........................................................
2c2 marks
Complete the following sentences.
An echo is the name for a reflected .................................................................. wave.
The waves that form an echo are a type of longitudinal wave. Longitudinal waves are made up of .................................................................. and rarefactions.
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3a4 marks
Extended tier only
Fig. 6.1 shows wavefronts approaching a gap in a barrier.
(i) On Fig. 6.1, draw three wavefronts to the right of the barrier.
[2]
(ii) Fig. 6.2 shows the gap in the barrier increased to five times the gap in Fig. 6.1.
On Fig. 6.2, draw three wavefronts to the right of the barrier.
[2]
3b4 marks
Describe, with a labelled diagram, an experiment using water waves that shows the reflection of wavefronts that occur at a straight barrier.
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4a3 marks
Green light of frequency 5.7 × 1014 Hz is travelling in air at a speed of 3.0 × 108 m/s. The light is incident on the surface of a transparent solid.
Fig. 6.1 shows the wavefronts and the direction of travel of the light in the air.
The light travels more slowly in the transparent solid.
Explain, in terms of the wavefronts, why the light changes direction as it enters the solid. You may draw on Fig. 6.1 as part of your answer.
4b6 marks
Extended tier only
The refractive index of the transparent solid is 1.3.
(i) The light is incident on the surface of the solid at an angle of incidence of 67°.
Calculate the angle of refraction of the light in the solid.
angle of refraction = ......................................................... [2]
(ii) Determine the wavelength of the green light in the transparent solid.
wavelength = ......................................................... [4]
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54 marks
A group of students want to determine the speed of sound in air.
Describe a method they can use. State the measurements they need to make.
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