IGCSE-II

Physics
Paper 4
(Notes and solved past-paper questions)

Prepared by:

Sir A. N. Chowhan
(Headstart School, Islamabad)
Sole author of best-selling book on
A-level Physics Paper 5
(Best seller in 8 countries, including UK, Pakistan, UAE,
Saudi Arabia, China, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Nepal)

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 GENERAL WAVE PROPERTIES

(1) Wave

Waves transfer energy without transferring matter. [1]

(2) Important Terms Related to Wave Motion

When a wave is produced on a horizontal (stretched) string, the particles of the string start oscillating
vertically about their equilibrium positions.

(i) Displacement, y
The displacement (of a point on the wave) is its distance from the equilibrium position. [1]
So, in the above diagram, y is the displacement of point P (at the instant shown).

(ii) Amplitude, y0
The maximum displacement (from equilibrium position) is called as amplitude. [1]
So, y0 is the amplitude of the wave (shown in the above diagram).

(iii) Period, T
Period is the time taken (for a point on the wave) to complete one oscillation. [1]
As point P oscillates about its equilibrium position, its displacement (y) changes (with time). So, if we
draw displacement-time graph for point P, we get:

In the above graph, T is the period (of the wave).

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(iv) Frequency, f
Frequency (of a wave) is the number of oscillations completed (by a point on the wave) per unit time.
[1]
It is related to period by:
1
f 
T
The SI unit of frequency is herts (Hz), which is equal to s –1.
Note
The frequency of a wave (e.g. sound wave) is the same as that of the vibrating source (e.g. tuning
fork) producing the wave.

(v) Wavelength, 
It is the distance between two successive points (on the wave) with the same phase. [1]
Note
In one period (time), the wave (profile) covers a distance of one wavelength.

(vi) Speed of a Wave

The speed of a wave is the distance covered by the wave profile (or wavefront) per unit time. [1]
Generally:
distance covered
speed =
time taken
As, in one period (T), the wave (profile) covers a distance of one wavelength (), so:
 1
v= (where: = f)
T T
 v = f ………. (i)
Note
In a given medium (e.g. air), the speed of a certain type of wave (e.g. sound wave) remains constant.
So, from Eq. (i), it follows that when frequency (f) of a wave is increased, the wavelength ()
decreases (and vice versa), but the product of f and  (which is equal to the speed v of the wave)
remains constant (as long as medium is not changed).

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(Q5/42/M/J/15)

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(3) Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

Transverse waves

In transverse waves, the direction of oscillation (of wave particles) is perpendicular to the direction of
energy transfer. [2]

Examples
 wave produced on a stretched string
 electromagnetic waves (e.g. light)

Longitudinal waves

In longitudinal waves, the direction of oscillation (of wave particles) is parallel to the direction of
energy transfer. [2]

Examples
 wave produced on a (slinky) spring
 sound waves

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(Q6/42/M/J/11)

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(4) Reflection at a Plane Surface

The law of reflection states that

angle of incidence = angle of reflection
i.e.
i=r
Note
 As incident and reflected waves are both produced by the same source, so they have the same
frequency (f).
 As incident and reflected waves both travel in the same medium, so they have the same speed
(v) too.
 As:
v = f
so the wavelength () of the incident and reflected waves is also the same.

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(5) Diffraction
Diffraction through a Gap

When waves travel through a gap (or past the edge of an object), they spread out; this property of
waves is called diffraction. [1]
Note
 Spreading increases with wavelength () of incident waves, and becomes maximum when:
 of incident wave = gap size
(compare the spreading in diagrams (a) and (b) above).
 When the wavelength () of incident waves becomes (much) greater than the gap size, hardly any
wave passes through the gap (see diagram (c)).
 As incident and diffracted waves are both produced by the same source, so they have the same
frequency (f).
 If the medium before and after diffraction is the same, then incident and diffracted waves have the
same speed (v) too.
 As:
v = f
so the wavelength () of the incident and diffracted waves is also the same (provided the medium
before and after diffraction is the same, as shown in diagrams (a) and (b)).

Diffraction at an Edge

Note that the longer the wavelength (), the more the wave spreads out (or bends around the edge).
Example
When light and sound waves are both incident on the edge of a wall, sound waves bend (or spread
out) significantly, whereas light waves go almost straight (i.e. negligible bending or spreading),
because sound waves have much longer wavelengths than light waves.

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(Q7/41/M/J/12)

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(Q6/43/O/N/16)

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(6) Ripple-Tank Apparatus

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(7) Refraction of Waves

Example 1

When water waves travel from deep-water region to shallow-water region:

 their frequency (f) remains unchanged (as the source of waves, i.e. vibrating rod, is the same);
 their wavelength () decreases (see the diagram);
 their speed (v) also decreases (as v = f).
When waves travel from one medium to another, they undergo change of speed; this property of
waves is called refraction. [2]

Example 2

Note that when waves are incident normally on the boundary between two media (as shown in the
diagram of example 1), they only undergo:
 change of speed
On the other hand, when the waves are incident at an angle, other than 90, to the boundary (as
shown in the diagram of example 2), they undergo both:
 change of speed
 change of direction

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 GENERAL W AVE PROPERTIES

(Q6/42/M/J/11)

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