Practice questions

1a.
i) Calculate the mean length L at 512Hz.
425+407+396+415+402=2045 / 5 = 409Hz
ii) Estimate the uncertainty in this length measurement
Uncertainty (%) =

x 100
Uncertainty (%) =

x 100 = 3.55%
1b. the student thought that the measurements showed that the frequency of sound f
emitted by the wire is inversely proportional to the length L of the vibrating section.
i) Discuss whether or not the measurements support this hypothesis.
- This hypothesis is correct because when the f was doubled from 256Hz to
512Hz the L of the vibrating section halved from 820mm to 409mm.
2a. calculate the speed of the sound through the water.

V = 29000 x 0.053 = 1537 m/s
2b. the sound is reflected from the sea bed and is received back at the ship 0.23s after it is
transmitted. Calculate the depth of the water
1537 x 0.23 8130.73/2 = 4065.365 m/s
3a
i) Made up of compressions and decompressions and cannot be polarised
ii) Made up of peaks and troughs at 90C to the direction of travel and can be
polarised.
3b the light changes from maximum to minimum then to maximum, to minimum and back
to maximum.
4a Transverse waves
4b Light waves
4c some waves cannot be polarised because they only go in one direction.
5a
5b see sheet
5c -