1

1 Transverse waves are moving past a small boat on a lake.

waves travelling
boat
this way

Which way do the waves make the boat move?

[1]

[Total: 1]

2 The diagram shows the profile (side view) of a water wave.

Q water wave

P T

The water molecules move at right angles to the direction of travel of the water wave.

State the name for this type of wave.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

3 State the meaning of the frequency of a wave.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]
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4 A student investigates wave properties. He uses waves on the surface of a tank of water to show
the properties.

The waves move from deep water to shallow water. The diagram shows the wavefronts.

wavefronts

deep shallow
water water

State the name of the effect shown in the diagram.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

5 The diagram shows the profile (side view) of a water wave.

Q water wave

P T

R
State the letter which represents:

(a) the amplitude of the wave ............................................... [1]

(b) the wavelength of the wave. ........................................... [1]

[Total: 2]

6 Waves on the surface of water are transverse waves.

Describe the vibration of particles in a transverse wave.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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7 A student investigates wave properties. He uses waves on the surface of a tank of water to show
the properties.

The waves move from deep water to shallow water. The diagram shows the wavefronts.

wavefronts

deep shallow
water water

When the wave passes from deep water to shallow water, two of its properties change.

Describe how one of these properties changes.

property ....................................................................................................................................

change in property ................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 2]
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8 A student investigates wave properties. He uses waves on the surface of a tank of water to show
the properties.

The waves move from deep water to shallow water. The diagram shows the wavefronts.

wavefronts

deep shallow
water water

The student notes that it takes 10 s to produce 25 complete waves in the water tank.

Calculate the frequency of the waves.

frequency of waves = ............................................... Hz [3]

[Total: 3]

9 Waves on the surface of water are transverse waves.

State one other example of a transverse wave.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]
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10 The red light produced by a laser is monochromatic.

The red light from the laser hits the curved surface of a semicircular transparent plastic block at
point P and passes into the plastic.

The red light travels through the plastic and hits the straight edge of the block at its midpoint M.
The diagram shows that some of the light is reflected and that some light travels in the air along
the straight edge of the plastic block.

laser
reflected light

P
red light
plastic block

37°

Explain why the red light does not change direction as it enters the plastic block.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

11 Indicate whether the types of wave in the table are transverse or longitudinal.

Show your answer for each type of wave by placing a tick (✓) in one column.

Complete all the rows in the table.

type of wave transverse longitudinal

infrared

microwaves

ultrasound

radio waves

[2]

[Total: 2]
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12 The water waves travel from deep water into shallow water. The water waves have a lower speed
in the shallow water.

The diagram shows wavefronts for the waves in deep water to the left of the boundary.

wavefronts deep water boundary

wave
direction

shallow water

(a) On the diagram, complete three wavefronts for the waves in shallow water to the right of the
boundary. [2]

(b) State the term for the process at the boundary in the diagram.

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 3]

13 The diagram shows the displacement of particles in a water wave.

2.0
displacement / cm

1.0

0
4.0 8.0 12.0 16.0 20.0 24.0
distance / cm

–1.0

–2.0

Using the information in the diagram, determine:

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(a) the wavelength of the wave

wavelength = .............................................. cm [1]

(b) the amplitude of the wave.

amplitude = .............................................. cm [1]

[Total: 2]

14 Describe the difference between the vibrations of longitudinal waves and transverse waves.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

15 The diagram represents a wave on a rope at one instant.

direction of
wave travel
displacement

distance moved by wave

On the diagram, draw a line representing one wavelength. Label the line L. [1]

[Total: 1]

16 The diagram shows crests of a plane water wave in deep water approaching a region of shallow
water.
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boundary

direction of travel
of water wave

deep shallow
water water

The water wave moves more slowly in shallow water.

(a) On the diagram draw three crests of the water wave in the shallow water. [2]

(b) On the diagram draw the direction of travel of the wave in the shallow water. [1]

[Total: 3]

17 The diagram shows crests of a plane water wave approaching a barrier with a gap.

crests barrier

direction of travel
of water wave

On the diagram, draw three crests of the water wave to the right of the barrier. [2]

[Total: 2]
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18 A sound wave used for a medical examination has a frequency of 1.5 MHz.

The wave travels through soft human tissue at a speed of 1.3 km / s.

Calculate the wavelength of the wave in soft human tissue.

wavelength = .............................................. [3]

[Total: 3]

19 State two ways in which transverse waves differ from longitudinal waves.

1. ..............................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

2. ..............................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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20 A student creates waves in a water tank and places various barriers in their path.

The diagram shows the wavefronts as they approach a barrier placed at an angle of 45° to the
wavefronts.

wavefronts

water barrier
tank direction of
travel of
wavefronts

45°

water

On the diagram, draw three wavefronts after they have reflected from the barrier. Draw an arrow
to show the direction of travel of these wavefronts. [2]

[Total: 2]

21 A student uses a tank of water to observe waves on the surface of the water.

The graph in the diagram represents a wave on the surface of the water.

displacement
of water

0
distance

(a) Draw on the diagram to indicate the amplitude of the wave. Label the amplitude A. [1]

(b) Draw on the diagram to indicate one wavelength of the wave. Label the wavelength L. [1]

[Total: 2]
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22 A student creates waves in a water tank and places a barrier in their path.

The diagram shows the wavefronts as they reach the barrier.

wavefronts barrier
water
tank
direction of
travel of
wavefronts

water narrow
gap

On the diagram, draw three wavefronts after they have passed through the narrow gap. [2]

[Total: 2]

23 A clock is illuminated by a source of monochromatic green light.

State the meaning of monochromatic.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

24 A clock is illuminated by a source of monochromatic green light.

–7
The green light has a wavelength of 5.6 × 10 m.

Calculate the frequency of this green light.

frequency = ..................................................... [3]

[Total: 3]

25 The diagram shows the path of a ray of red light through a glass block in air.

The critical angle for the red light as it travels from glass into air is 43°.
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(a) On the diagram, label the angle of incidence at A. Use the letter X to label the angle.
[1]

(b) State the name of the process which occurs at A.

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) State the name given to the dashed line at A.

........................................................................................................................................ [1]

[Total: 3]

26 The diagram shows a transverse wave.

Give the label letter P, Q, R, S or T for the arrow which represents:

1. the amplitude of the wave ..............................................

2. the wavelength of the wave. .......................................... [2]

[Total: 2]
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27 The diagram shows a transverse wave.

Describe the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves.

You may draw a labelled diagram.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]

28 A student stands next to a pond and observes water waves on its surface. She counts 12

complete waves passing a point in the pond in a time of 8.0 s.

Calculate the frequency of the water waves.

frequency = .................................................... Hz [3]

[Total: 3]

29 The diagram shows crests of a wave from a point source S approaching a straight barrier.
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straight barrier
S

(a) On the diagram, indicate and label one wavelength.

[1]

(b) On the diagram, draw three crests of the wave reflected from the barrier.

[2]

[Total: 3]
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30 The diagram shows a mobile (cell) phone.

The mobile phone produces sound waves.

The ring tone of the mobile phone consists of two musical notes, note A and note B.

Note A is louder and is higher in pitch than note B.

The diagram shows note A displayed on an oscilloscope screen.

Note B is displayed on the same oscilloscope screen as note A. Describe the differences between
the wave for note B and the wave for note A. You may draw on the diagram of the oscilloscope
screen to show the differences.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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31 A teacher uses a long spring to demonstrate wave motion. She makes a wave move along the coils
of the spring.
The diagram shows the wave on the spring.

Measure the wavelength of the wave shown in the diagram.

wavelength = .............................................. cm [1]

[Total: 1]

32 A teacher uses a long spring to demonstrate wave motion. She makes a wave move along the coils
of the spring.
The diagram shows the wave on the spring.

Explain why the type of wave in the diagram is a longitudinal wave.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

33 State what is meant by the frequency of a wave.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

34 The diagram shows a transverse wave produced in a string.

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(full size)

(a) On the diagram draw labelled lines to show

1. the amplitude of the wave

2. the wavelength of the wave. [2]

(b) On the diagram label a trough with the letter T. [1]

[Total: 3]

35 A musical instrument emits a sound with a frequency of 4.4 kHz. The frequency of the sound emitted
by the instrument is changed to 5.1 kHz and the amplitude of the sound is increased.

Without calculation, state what happens to

1. the speed of the sound ........................................................................................................

2. the wavelength of the sound................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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36 The diagram shows a shallow tank viewed from above. The depth of the water is different in the
two parts of the tank. The diagram shows the crests and the troughs of a wave that pass from left
to right.

(not to scale)

As the wave passes from one side to the other, the direction of the wavefronts changes.

Explain why the direction of the wavefronts changes in the way shown in the diagram.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]
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37 The diagram shows a transverse wave produced in a string.

(full size)

A person vibrates one end of the string vertically to produce the wave. He makes 15 complete
oscillations in 60 s.

Show that the speed of the wave is 2.0 cm / s.

[3]

[Total: 3]

38 A musical instrument emits a sound with a frequency of 4.4 kHz. The speed of sound in air is
340 m / s.

Calculate the wavelength of the sound.

wavelength = .............................................. [3]

[Total: 3]
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39 State the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal waves. Use your ideas about the
direction of oscillations.

transverse waves......................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

longitudinal waves.....................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

40 The diagram shows a shallow tank viewed from above. The depth of the water is different in the
two parts of the tank. The diagram shows the crests and the troughs of a wave that pass from left
to right.

(not to scale)

The speed of the wave in the left-hand part of the tank is 0.39 m / s.

Using information from the diagram, determine the frequency of the wave.

frequency = .............................................. [3]

[Total: 3]