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Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Year 5 IBDP Physics

4.3 Wave Characteristics
4.4 Wave Behaviour

1 A progressive wave moves past two points P and Q, separated by a distance 0.90 m. A
graph showing how the displacement y at P varies with time t is shown in Fig. (a).
Another graph. Fig. (b), shows how the displacement of the wave at time t = 0 varies
with distance x from point P.

Using data from the graphs, deduce

for this wave

(i) the wavelength,

(ii) the frequency,
(iii) the speed,
(iv) the ratio amplitude at P
amplitude at Q ,
(v) the ratio intensity at P
intensity at Q.

[0.4 m, 800 Hz, 320 m s-1, /2 rad, 4,

16]

2 A small source of sound radiates energy equally in all directions. At a particular

frequency, the intensity of the sound 1.0 m from the source is 1.0 x 10-3 W m -2,
corresponding to an amplitude of oscillation of the air molecules of 70 m.
Assuming that the sound is propagated without energy loss, what will be

(i) the intensity of the sound,

(ii) the amplitude of oscillation of the air molecules,

at a distance of 5.0 m from the source ? [4.0 x 10-5 W m -2, 14 m]

3 A bar vibrating with a frequency of 20 Hz produces plane ripples in a ripple tank. The
wave moves with a speed of 24 cm s-1 until it reaches a shallow region where its speed
becomes 18 cm s-1. The boundary PQ of the shallow region is at an angle of 45o to the
incident plane waves. Calculate
P
(i) the wavelength of the ripples before and after A
crossing the boundary PQ, and
(ii) the change in the direction of propagation of the
ripples.

Draw a diagram to show the wave pattern in the B

ripple tank. [1.2 cm, 0.9 cm, 13.0O]
Q
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Polarization

4 Explain the advantage of polarized sunglasses over normal tinted sunglasses.

5 How can you tell if a pair of sunglasses is polarizing or not?

6 Two polarized sheets rotated at an angle of 90° with respect to each other will not let any
light through. Three polarized sheets, each rotated at an angle of 45° with respect to
each other, will let some light through. What will happen to unpolarized light if you align
four polarized sheets, each rotated at an angle of 30° with respect to the one in front of
it?

7 What is Brewster’s angle for an air–glass (n = 1.52) surface?

8 What is Brewster’s angle for a diamond submerged in water if the light is hitting the
diamond (n = 2.42 ) while traveling in the water?

9 Two polarizers are oriented at 40° to each other and plane-polarized light is incident on
them. If only 15% of the light gets through both of them, what was the initial polarization
direction of the incident light?

10 Two polarizers are oriented at 38.0° to one another. Light polarized at a 19.0° angle to
each polarizer passes through both. What percent reduction in intensity takes place?

Diffraction

11 (i) State what is meant by diffraction of a wave.

(ii) The diagrams below represent plane wavefronts approaching a wide gap and a
narrow gap respectively.

Draw on each diagram lines, illustrating diffraction, to represent the wavefronts

after passing through the gaps.

12 Sketch the variation with angle of diffraction of the relative intensity of light
diffracted at a single slit.
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13 This question is about diffraction at a single slit.

Plane wavefronts of monochromatic light are incident on a narrow, rectangular slit

whose width b is comparable to the wavelength λ of the light. After passing
through the slit, the light is brought to a focus on a screen.

Q
ZW

b Y
X

slit screen

The line XY, normal to the plane of the slit, is drawn from the centre of the slit to
the screen and the points P and Q are the first points of minimum intensity as
measured from point Y.
The diagram also shows two rays of light incident on the screen at point P. Ray ZP
leaves one edge of the slit and ray XP leaves the centre of the slit. The angle 
is small.

(a) On the diagram, label the half angular width θ of the central maximum of the
diffraction pattern.

(b) State and explain an expression, in terms of λ for the path difference ZW
between the rays ZP and XP.

(c) Hence deduce that the half angular width θ is given by the expression

λ
θ=
b

(d) In a particular demonstration of single slit diffraction, λ = 450 nm, b = 0.15

mm and the screen is a long way from the slits.

Calculate the angular width of the central maximum of the diffraction pattern on
the screen. [6.0 x 10-3 rad]
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Two-Source Interference of Waves

14 (a) Explain what is meant by coherent sources.

(b) Two small coherent sound sources S1 and S2 are set up as shown below

A sound detector is moved along a line AB that is parallel to S 1S2. N is the point on
AB such that S1N = S2N.

The sound waves from S1 and S2 have frequency 2.80 kHz and speed 336 m s-1.

(i) Show that the wavelength of the waves is 12.0 cm.

(ii) The detector, when placed at N, indicates a maximum intensity of sound. As
it is moved from N to a point P, the intensity varies between high and low
values. At P, the distance S1P is 372 cm and S2P is 402 cm.

Determine, with suitable explanation,

1. whether the intensity of sound at P is high or low,

2. the number of high intensity regions that are found between N and P.
Do not include the maximum at N.

(iii) The intensity of sound produced at N by S 1 alone or by S2 alone is I.

Calculate the intensity at N, in terms of I, when both S1 and S2 are producing
sound.

15 Fringes of separation y are observed in a plane 1.00 m from a Young’s double slit
arrangement illuminated by yellow light of wavelength 600 nm.

At what distance from the slits would fringes of the same separation y be observed
when using blue light of wavelength 400 nm? [1.5m]

Another way of obtaining similar interference

fringes is illustrated in Fig 1.

A single slit is viewed both directly and by Fig 1

reflection from the mirror surface. Explain
why this system produces a fringe pattern.
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16 A double slit with slit separation 0.800 mm is situated a distance 2.50 m from a thin jet of
high speed smoke as shown in Fig 1
2.50 m
The double slit is illuminated with coherent
light of wavelength 589 nm. Fringes are Light 0.800 mm
observed in the moving smoke. P
smoke
(a) Calculate the separation of these stream
fringes. [1.84 x 10-3 m] Fig 1

(b) State with a reason the changes, if any that would be observed in the pattern of
fringes if the following adjustments were made to the experimental arrangements.
In each case only the one adjustment is made and all the other arrangements are
unchanged.

(i) The coherent light of wavelength

589 nm is replaced with coherent 2.50 m 45o
monochromatic red light.
(ii) The speed of the smoke stream Light 0.800 mm
is doubled. P
(iii) The direction of the smoke
stream is rotated 45o as shown in smoke
Fig 2. stream

Fig 2