Grade 9 Integrated Science 1

Waves Topic Practice questions

1. A grade two and a grade 12 ISM student fall into the swimming pool. Who
makes the biggest wave, and why?
The grade 12 student as they are bigger (have more mass) than the grade 2
student, and so transfer more energy to the water when they fall in.
2. In the question above, what would we have to do to make the waves made by
each student the same size?
The grade 2 student needs to jump in from a greater height, or the gr12 student
needs to crouch down as they fall.
3. Mr Duckworths class time how long it takes for the wave produced by the
grade two student to reach the end of the 25m pool. If the time taken was 12.5
seconds, how fast did the wave-front travel?
Use formula speed = distance/time which gives:- 25/12.5 = 2ms -1
4. The speed of sound in air is about 330m/s. If Mrs. Dickinson sees a lightning
flash 6 seconds before she hears the accompanying thunder, how far away from
Mrs. Dickinson was the lightning?
Re-arrange formula to give:- distance = speed x time which gives:- distance =
330 x 6 = 1980m
5. According to the website http://www.physorg.com/news186502609.html the
recent earthquake in Chile caused a Tsunami that travelled at a speed of
675km/h. If the distance between Chile and the Island of Guam is 16000km, how
much time did the people of Guam have to prepare for the earthquake in hours?
Why was the Tsunami that hit Guam too small to cause serious damage?
Re-arrange equation to give time = distance/speed which gives:- time =
16000/675 = 23.7 hours
The Tsunami was too small to cause serious damage as much of its energy had
been dissipated or words to that effect.
6. While out surfing at Siargao Mr. Boulton notices that there are 30 waves every
five minutes. What is the frequency of the waves in waves per minute, and in Hz?
Frequency = number of waves/time which gives (in waves per minute):- 30/5 = 6
waves/ minute, or in waves per second:- 30/(5x60) = 30/300 = 0.1 Hz
7. Mr Boulton estimates the distance between adjacent wave peaks to be 50m.
How fast is the wave travelling?
Using v = f gives:- v = 0.1 x 50 = 5ms-1

8. While on holiday in Zambales Mr. Hobbins decides to cool off by dipping his
feet in the resort swimming pool. To fully relax Mr H plays his favourite Boy
George song on his IPod, Karma Chameleon. If Mr Hobbins taps his foot to the
beat, how could you calculate the average frequency of his foot movement?
Count the number of foot taps over a set time period (eg 60 seconds), then
divide by the time period to give the average frequency.
9. Mrs. Hobbins calculates the frequency to be 40 beats per minute, what is the
frequency of his foot movement in Hz?
Frequency = number of foot taps/ time which gives:- 40/60 = 0.67 Hz
10. Mr Hobbins foot movement causes waves on the surface of the pool. If the
average distance between each trough is 0.2m, what is the speed of the wave?
Using v = f gives:- v = 0.67 x 0.2 = 0.134 ms-1
11. If the wave takes 25 seconds to travel across the pool, how wide is the pool?
Re-arrange formula to give:- distance = speed x time which gives distance =
0.134 x 25
= 3.35m
12. Like many old people Mr. Duckworth finds it difficult to hear high pitched
sounds. In a recent experiment Mr. Duckworths students discovered that Mr D.
could not hear sounds of a frequency greater than 12,000 Hz. If the speed of
sound in air is 330m/s, what is the shortest wavelength of sound he can hear?
Re-arranging Using v = f gives:- = v/f which gives :- 0.0275 = 330/12000 = m
13. Mr Reynolds tells everyone that he can sounds of a higher frequency than Mr
Duckworth. When questioned by his students Mr Reynolds said the shortest
wavelength sounds he can hear are 0.02m. Is Mr Reynolds correct, can he hear
higher frequency sounds than Mr Duckworth?
Using v = f gives:- f = v/ which gives f = 330/0.2 = 16500Hz, so yes Mr Reynolds can hear
higher frequency sounds than Mr Duckworth