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OCR Physics A: Wave Motion
OCR Physics A: Wave Motion
OCR Physics A: Wave Motion
2 Wave properties
OCR Physics A Teacher notes
Wave motion
Specification reference
4.4.1 a) b) (i) (ii) c) d)
M0.2 recognise and use expressions in decimal and standard form
M1.1 use an appropriate number of significant figures
M2.2 change the subject of an equation
Learning outcomes
After completing the worksheet students should be able to:
demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding of the terms used to describe waves:
displacement, amplitude, wavelength, period, frequency, and speed of a wave
1
use the equation f
T
use the equation v f
interpret an oscilloscope trace.
Introduction
This sheet begins with revision of representing transverse waves as either a graph of
displacement against distance travelled or as displacement against time. Students calculate
frequency and period and then use the wave equation v f .
Teacher notes
A common mistake is to interpret a graph of displacement against time as one of
displacement against distance. This can lead to students thinking the wave is transverse when it
is longitudinal.
Answers
1 a i
ii
1 mark for the correct amplitude and 1 mark for the correct period
1 1
(T ,T 0.02 s).
f 50 Hz
b v f
v (50 Hz) (1.5 m)
75 m s–1 (1 mark)
2 v f
v (300 Hz) (2.1 m)
630 m s–1 (1 mark)
3 v f
v (250 Hz) (5.7 m)
1425 m s–1
1400 m s–1 (two significant figures) (1 mark)
v
4
f
330 m s –1
512 Hz
0.64 m or 64 cm (two significant figures) (1 mark)
v
5 a f
λ
450 m s –1
f
1.5 m
300 Hz (1 mark)
1
b T
f
1
T
300 Hz
3.33 10–3 s
3.3 10–3 s or 3.3 ms (two significant figures) (1 mark)
6 v fl
(3.00 108 m s–1) f (580 10–9 m)
3.0010 8 m s –1
f
58010 – 9 m
5.2 1014 Hz (1 mark)
7 Hydrogen
v fl
(3.00 108 m s–1) f (656 10–9 m)
3.0010 8 m s –1
f
65610 – 9 m
4.573 1014 Hz (1 mark)
Helium
v fl
(3.00 108 m s–1) f (668 10–9 m)
3.0010 8 m s –1
f
66810 – 9 m
4.491 1014 Hz (1 mark)
Difference 4.573 1014 Hz – 4.491 1014 Hz
0.0820 1014 Hz
8.20 1012 Hz (three significant figures) (1 mark)
(Note that finding the difference in wavelength will not give the difference in frequency if
substituted in the wave equation.)
8 v fl
(3.00 108 m s–1) (64 106 Hz )
3.0010 8 m s –1
4.7 m (1 mark)
6410 6 Hz
9 One wave is 4 cm on the screen.
a T 5.0 ms cm–1 4 cm
20 ms (1 mark)
1
f 10–3
20
50 Hz (1 mark)
b T 2.0 μs cm 4 cm
–1
8 μs (1 mark)
1
f 10–6
8
1.25 105 Hz
130 kHz (two significant figures) (1 mark)
c T 100 ns cm 4 cm
–1
400 ns (1 mark)
1
f 10–9
400
2.5 106 Hz
2.5 MHz (1 mark)
10 a amplitude 1.8 cm 2.0 V cm–1
3.6 V (1 mark)