Stage 1 PHYSICS

Light and Introduction to Waves SAT

Answer all questions. An approved Calculator may be used. Show all working, marks will not be awareded
without working. Physics formulae sheets may be used.

1. A sound wave is moving at 340m/s through air and vibrating a microphone

at 256Hz. The resultant voltage in the microphone is +/- 10mV
a. calculate the wavelength of the sound wave
b. What is the period of the sound wave ?
c. Draw a graph of the voltage in the microphone over a time interval of
0.008s
d. Indicate on your graph the period and amplitude of the wave (8)

2. A surfer is waiting beyond the break for a gnarly right hander. She counts
the waves passing underneath and finds that 10 waves pass every 100
seconds. She estimates the height of the wave from trough to crest is 2m.
She also estimates that the distance between crests is 20m.
a. Calculate the frequency of the waves
b. Calculate the velocity of the waves
c. Draw a graph of the motion of the surfer over 20 seconds (6)

3. Light is bent when it passes into a glass prism from air. In an experiment,
the angle of incidence is measured as 45 degrees and the angle of
refraction as 38 degrees.
a. Draw the experimental set up indicating the angles of incidence and
refraction
b. calculate the refractive index of the glass
c. calculate the critical angle for this piece of glass
d. What does the critical angle mean, draw a diagram to support your answer
(9)

4. The refraction of light supports the idea that light travels slower in glass
than in air. Explain how the refractive index of a material is a measure of
the ratio of the velocity of light in air to its velocity in the glass. Use a
diagram to support your answer . (5)

5. A lens is a particular application of refraction.

a. Draw a lens and show the positions of the primary axis, the optical
centre, the focus and the path of 4 rays parallel to the primary axis for
a bi-convex lens of focal length 50mm
b. Explain how the design of the lens achieves a focus for parallel rays
entering it
(6)
6. A biconvex lens is used to generate an image on a screen. A candle
stands 120mm in front of the lens, which has a focal length of 40mm. The
candle is 50mm high.
a. Draw a ray diagram representing this situation and draw in the position of
the image.
b. Is the image real or virtual ? Explain your answer
c. Where would we place a screen to observe the image ?
d. What is the magnification of the object.

7. A bi-convex lens with a focal length of 50mm is used as a magnifying

glass. A 5mm object is placed 25mm under the glass and viewed. Using a
ray trace diagram determine:
a. The magnification of the image
b. The apparent distance of the image from the magnifying glass
(8)

8. An electric guitar is a good example of standing waves on strings. The

length of the guitar strings (played open) are 0.648m

A particular note on the D string has a freqency of 147Hz

a. Determine the wavelength of that note if the velocity of sound in air is

320m/s
b. What would be the effect of increasing the tension on the string ?

c. What would be the effect of replacing the string with a heavier string but
keeping the same tension ?

d. Suggest another note that the string would be capable of playing

e. Describe how the string is producing that particular note. (describe how a
standing wave is produced on a string fixed at both ends)
9. Ocean waves interfere with each other as they reflect off the side of ships
berthed in a harbour. This is shown in the diagram:

a. On a diagram clearly
show where waves are:
i. adding
constructively

ii. adding
destructively
(cancelling out)

(2)

b. The reflected waves

have the same
wavelength (2.0m) and
amplitude (0.5m).
Explain (using graphs
or diagrams if needed)
how the reflected
waves from two ships
are interfering
destructively and why
this occurs at the
position indicated.
(5)

(you may use the last page if

you need space)
 EXPERIMENTAL QUESTION

10.
Light from a laser, which is coherent and monochromatic, falls upon a
diffraction grating and produces a series of bright spots due to the
interference pattern. The experimental set up is shown below

 The distance from

the grating to the
screen (D) is
500mm.
 The distance of the
bright spots from
the central bright
spots is S (mm).
 The order of the
bright spots (m)
are shown, 1, 2, 3
etc

An image showing the bright spots

(m=1) either side of the central
maximum for a green laser being
shone through a diffraction grating.

The following data were obtained for a

violet coloured laser.

m S tan θ Θ Sin θ
(Distance from centre (=S/500) =tan-1(tan θ)
in mm)
1 146
2 342
3 782
a. Complete the table above to the correct number of significant figures (2)
b. Draw a graph of sin θ against M (M on the x-axis) (5)
c. Draw a line of best fit for the data (1)
d. Determine the gradient of the line of best fit (2)

The equation relating the order of the maxima (M), the wavelength of the
laser (λ) and the distance between the slits in the grating (d) is given by:

d sin θ = m λ

e. If the distance between the slits on the diffraction grating is known to be

1.6 x 10-6 m, from your answer to part (d) above, determine the
wavelength of the laser (λ ) (3)