Learning Outcome Number of Suggested Exercises /Assignments

Periods

Subtopic 5. : Wave Properties

• Practice Questions (Addition to Specified Example Questions)

Multiple choice questions
Questions 1 to 3
The diagram below shows the displacement-distance and displacement-time graphs for a wave

2. What is the wavelength of the wave?

1. What is the period of the wave? A. 0.2 m
B. 0.3 m
A. 0.2 s
C. 0.4 m
B. 0.3 s
√ D. 0.6 m
√ C. 0.4 s
D. 0.6 s 3. What is the speed of the wave?
A. 0.24 m/s
B. 0.67 m/s
√ C. 1.5 m/s
D. 3.0 m/s

1
4. Which of the following is/are true for a mechanical 8. What is the name for an area of low pressure in a
wave? longitudinal wave?
I. It is a disturbance in matter
II. It transfers energy A. Crest
III. It needs a medium to travel
B. Trough
A. I only C. Compression
B. I and II only √ D. rarefaction
C. II and III only
9. As a transverse wave moves through a medium,
√ D. I, II and III the particles of the medium ______.

5. What do mechanical waves transfer? vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave’s
A.
propagation
√ A. Energy only vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the
√ B.
B. Matter only wave’s propagation

C. Both energy and Matter are transferred in the direction of the wave’s
C.
motion, only
D. Neither energy nor matter
D. are stationary
6. As a longitudinal wave moves through a medium,
the particles of the medium move______. 10. Identify the quantities labeled ! and " in the
figure below.
perpendicular to the direction of wave
A.
travel
√ B. parallel to the direction of wave travel
C. in circles
D. in ellipses

7. The diagram below represents a transverse # $

water wave propagating toward the left. A cork is
floating on the water’s surface at point P. A. Period Amplitude

B. Period Wavelength

C. Amplitude Period

√ D. Wavelength Amplitude

11. A transverse wave has _____.

In which direction will the cork move as the
wave passes point P? √ A. Crests and troughs
B. Crests and compressions
A. up, then down, then up
C. Compressions and rarefactions
√ B. down, then up, then down
D. Rarefactions and troughs
C. left, then right, then left
D. right, then left, then right

2
12. The diagram below shows waves A and B in the 16. A physics student notices that 4.0 waves arrive
same medium. at the beach every 20 seconds. The frequency
of these waves is ______.

√ A. 0.20 +,
B. 4.0 +,
C. 5.0 +,
Compared to wave A, wave B has _______.
D. 80 +,
twice the amplitude and twice the
A. 17. Which of the following wave diagrams have both
wavelength
twice the amplitude and half the wavelength (4) and amplitude (!) labeled correctly?
√ B.
wavelength
the same amplitude and half the
C.
wavelength
half the amplitude and the same
D. A.
wavelength

13. The wave on the slinky below is a _____ wave.

B.
A. transverse
√ B. longitudinal
C. surface
D. electromagnetic
√ C.
14. The time required to produce one cycle of a wave
is known as the wave’s _____.

√ A. period
B. frequency
C. wavelength D.
D. amplitude

15. A microwave with a frequency of 5.0 × 10!" +,

has a period of _____.
18. The energy of a wave is most closely related to its
√ A. 2.0 × 10 #!!
. _______.
#$ A. period
B. 6.0 × 10 .
√ B. amplitude
C. 1.7 × 10% .
D. 1.5 × 10!& . C. frequency
D. wavelength

3
19. The diagram below shows a periodic wave. 22. Speed of a wave depends on the _______.
Which two points on the wave are 180° out of phase? A. frequency
B. time period
C. wavelength
√ D. medium

Questions 23 to 24
The diagram below represents a wave.
√ A. A and C
B. B and E
C. F and G
D. D and H

20. Which points on the wave diagram below are 90º

out of phase with each other?
23. What is the amplitude of the wave?
√ A. 0.20 m

B. 0.40 m

C. 2.0 m

D. 6.0 m
A. A and E
B. B and C 24. What is the wavelength of the wave?
A. 0.20 m
C. C and D
B. 0.40 m
√ D. D and E
√ C. 2.0 m
21. The diagram below represents a transverse wave 6.0 m
D.
traveling in a string. Which two labeled points are
180° out of phase?
25. What is the speed of the wave if its frequency is
8.0 hertz?
A. 1.6 m/s

B. 3.2 m/s

√ C. 16 m/s

D. 48 m/s

A. A and B 26. The diagram below shows two points, A and B, on

a wave train. How many wavelengths separate point
B. C and G A and point B?
√ C. D and F A. 1.0
D. D and H √ B. 1.5
C. 2.0
D. 3.0

4
27. The graph below represents the displacement of a 28. Two waves are traveling through the same
particle in a medium over a period of time container of nitrogen gas. Wave A has a wavelength
of 1.5 m. Wave B has a wavelength of 4.5 m. The
speed of wave B must be ________ the speed of wave A.

A. one-ninth
B. one-third
√ C. same
D. three times larger than

What is the frequency of the wave? 29. If the speed of a particular wave doubles, its
wavelength will ______.
√ A. 0.25 Hz
A. be halved
B. 0.50 Hz
√ B. be doubled
C. 2.0 Hz
C. remain the same
D. 4.0 Hz
D. depend on the amplitude

Answer the following Questions

1. The diagram below represents part of a periodic wave traveling to the right in a steel spring attached to a wall.
Use the diagram above to answer the questions in the table below.

What is the amplitude of the wave? 0.2 6

What is the wavelength of the wave? 2.0 6

Identify any two points on the wave that A and G/ B and X/

are in phase. C and I/ D and J
If the waves were produced at a faster
rate, what happens to the distance Decreases
between points D and G?

2. The figure below shows two different waves traveling with the same speed.

a. Find the values of the quantities listed in the table below for each of the waves in the diagram.

Quantity Wave I Wave II

Amplitude 10 cm 5 cm

Period 0.4 s 0.8 s

Frequency 2.5 Hz or (1/0.4) 1.25 Hz or (1/0.8)

5
3. A sound wave has a frequency of 7 = 150+, and travels a distance of 30.0 6, in 0.100 ..

a. Calculate the speed of the wave.

;<.=>?@A 30
:= = = 300 6/.
=<6A 0.10

b. Find the wavelength of the wave.

: 300
4= = = 2.00 6
7 150

c. What is the period of the wave?

1 1
C= = .
7 150

d. If the wave continued to travel in the same medium, but with double its original frequency, what would its
new wavelength be?
: 300
4= = =16
7 2 × 150

e. Which of the two waves have a larger wavelength? Justify your answer.
Since both the waves have the same speed, the wavelength is inversely proportional to the frequency.
Therefore, wave II has the larger wavelength.

4. For each of the wave characteristics listed in the table below tick the appropriate column to state if it changes,
stays unchanged, may or may not change when a wave crosses a boundary into a different medium.

Wave Change Stays unchanged May or may not

Characteristics change
Frequency √
Wavelength √
Velocity √
Direction √

5. Air particles around a vibrating tuning fork move back and forth as the wave progresses to the right as shown
below.
a. Identify the type of wave.
Longitudinal wave

b. If the wavelength of the wave is 6.0 6 and the wave travels with a speed of 300 6/., find the frequency
of the wave.
: 300
7= = = 50 +,
4 6.0

a. Calculate the wave period.

1 1
C= = . = 0.02 .
7 50

b. If the frequency were doubled, what would the new wavelength be?
: 300
4= = = 3.0 6
7 100
6
6. A longitudinal wave moves to the right through a uniform medium, as shown below. Points A, B, C, D and E
represent the positions of the particles of the medium.

a. Use the labeled points to mark a wavelength on the diagram above.

Distance marked between points A & C
b. Describe the movement of the particle C as the wave moves to the right.
The particle C vibrates forward and backward in the direction of wave motion
c. If the frequency of the wave is 50 +, and the wave travels with a speed of 300 6/., find the wavelength
of the wave.
: 300 6/.
4= = = 6.0 6
7 50 +,
d. If the frequency were halved, what would the new wavelength be?
: 300
4= = = 12 6
7 25
7. A longitudinal wave moves to the right through a uniform medium, as shown below. Points A, B, C, D, and E
represent the positions of particles of the medium.

a. Which diagram best represents the motion of the particle at position C as the wave moves to the right?

Answer: 4

b. The wavelength of this wave is equal to the distance between points ____A and C_______.

8. The diagram below represents a periodic wave moving along a rope.

a. What is the frequency of the wave if it is moving with

a velocity of 20 m/s?
From the figure, 4 = 4 6
: 20 6/.
7= = = 5 +,
4 46

b. On the grid above, draw at least one full wave with

the same amplitude and half the wavelength of the
given wave.
Same amplitude, half the wavelength
7
9. The following diagram represents a vibrating string with a periodic wave originating at A and moving to G, a
distance of 6.0 meters.

a. As the wave moves toward G, point E on the string will move vertically down and then vertically up. What
type of wave is represented by the diagram?
Transverse

b. What is the wavelength of this wave?

CG=>H ;<.=>?@A 6.0
4= = = 2.0 6
IJ6KAL G7 M>:A. 3

c. If the waves were produced at a faster rate, the distance between points D and E would _____.
decrease

d. Differentiate between transverse and longitudinal waves, giving one example of each.

Transverse Wave Longitudinal Wave

Characteristics In transverse waves, the particles In longitudinal waves, the particles
oscillate perpendicular to the direction oscillate parallel to the direction of
of wave motion, causing crests and wave motion, causing areas of
troughs. compression and rarefaction.

Example • ripples on the surface of water • sound waves

• vibrations in a guitar string • ultrasound waves
• electromagnetic waves – eg light • seismic P-waves
waves, microwaves, radio waves
• seismic S-waves

8
 Learning Outcome Number of Suggested Exercises /Assignments
Periods

Subtopic 5. Wave behaviour

• Practice Questions (Addition to Specified Example Questions)

Multiple choice questions:
1. A wave pulse reaches an end that is fixed as shown 3. Two pulses approach each other in the same
below. The wave is _____in the opposite direction. medium. The diagram below represents the
displacements caused by each pulse.

Which diagram best represents the resultant

√ A. inverted and maintains the same shape displacement of the medium as the pulses pass
not inverted and maintains the same through each other?
B.
shape
C. inverted and gets bigger in shape
D. not inverted and gets bigger in shape

2. The diagram below represents two identical

pulses approaching each other in a uniform
medium.

4. Destructive interference occurs when ______.

A. a crest meets a crest

As the wave pulses meet and are superposed, the √ B. a crest meets a trough
maximum displacement of the medium is ____.
C. a trough meets a trough
A. −6 $% two waves come together so that they
D.
are in phase with each other
B. 0 $%
C. 3 $%
√ D. 6 $%

9
5. A wave with an amplitude of 0.75 m has the same 8. Which phenomenon occurs when an object
wavelength as a second wave with an amplitude of absorbs wave energy that matches the object’s
0.53 m. The two waves interfere. What is the natural frequency?
amplitude of the resultant wave if the interference is A. Reflection
constructive?
√ B. Resonance
A. 0.22 m
C. Refraction
B. 0.53 m
D. Interference
C. 0.75 m
√ D. 1.28 m 9. Which wave phenomenon occurs when vibrations
in one object cause vibrations in a second object with
6. Two waves having the same amplitude and maximum amplitude?
frequency are traveling in the same medium.
Maximum destructive interference will occur when A. Reflection
the phase difference between the waves is ____.
B. Refraction
A. 0°
√ C. Resonance
B. 90°
D. Interference
√ C. 180°
D. 270° 10. Wave X travels eastward with frequency f and
amplitude A. Wave Y, traveling in the same medium,
7. As represented in the diagram below, two wave interacts with wave X and produces a standing wave.
pulses, X and Y, are traveling toward each other in a Which of the below about wave Y is correct?
rope. Both wave pulses have an amplitude of 0.30 m.
Direction of
Frequency Amplitude
travel
A. f A eastward
B. 2f 3A eastward
Which diagram shows the pulse produced due to the C. 3f 2A westward
superposition of pulse X and pulse Y?
√ D. f A westward

11. Maximum destructive interference occurs at the

A.
____ and constructive interference occurs at the ____.
A. nodes nodes
B. √ B. nodes antinodes
C. antinodes nodes
D. antinodes antinodes
√ C.
12. In standing waves, the distance between two
successive nodes or two successive antinodes is
equal to ____.
A. (/4
D.
√ B. (/2
C. (
D. 2(

10
13. The distance between a node and the adjacent 17. What is the total number of nodes and antinodes
antinode is ______. in the standing wave?
√ A. (/4
B. (/2
C. (
A. 3 nodes and 2 antinodes
D. 2(
B. 2 nodes and 3 antinodes
14. The figure below shows a standing wave formed √ C. 5 nodes and 4 antinodes
on a string. What are the number of nodes formed?
D. 4 nodes and 5 antinodes
A. 1
B. 2 18. One end of a long spring is attached to a wall.
√ C. 3 A student vibrates the other end of the spring
vertically, creating a wave that moves to the wall
D. 5 and reflects back toward the student, resulting in
a standing wave in the spring, as represented
15. The diagram below represents a standing wave in below.
a string.

What is the phase difference between the incident

Maximum constructive interference occurs at the __. wave and the reflected wave at point P?
A. antinodes A, C and E A. 0°

√ B. antinodes B and D B. 90°

C. nodes A, C and E √ C. 180°

D. nodes B and D D. 270°

16. While playing, two children create a standing 19. The second harmonic of a guitar string has a
wave in a rope, as shown in the diagram below. A frequency of 60 Hz. If the speed of waves on the
third child participates by jumping the rope. string is 120 m/s, what is the string’s length?
A. 1.0 m

√ B. 2.0 m

C. 3.0 m

D. 4.0 m

What is the wavelength of this standing wave? 20. Which of the following pairs of instruments have
resonant frequencies at each whole number multiple
A. 2.15 m
of the lowest frequency?
B. 4.30 m A. a clamped string and a closed pipe
C. 6.45 m √ B. a clamped string and an open pipe
√ D. 8.60 m C. an open pipe and a closed pipe

D. an open pipe and a reed instrument

11
Questions 21 and 23 26. For a closed pipe resonance occurs when lengths
The figure below shows a standing wave formed in of air columns are equal to ___.
an open pipe of length L.
( 2( 3(
A. , ,
2 2 2
( 3( 5(
B. , ,
2 2 2
( 2( 3(
21. The mode of vibration above represents the ______ C. , ,
harmonic for an open pipe. 4 4 4
2nd ( 3( 5(
A. √ D. , ,
4 4 4
√ B. 3rd
4th 27. Which of the following describes the changes
C.
shown in the figure below when waves travel from
D. 5th deeper water to shallow water in a ripple tank?

22. The wavelength (() of the standing wave is ______. A. Reflection

A. , √ B. Refraction
B. 2, C. Diffraction
√ C. 2,/3 D. Interference
D. 2/3,

23. The frequency (-) of the standing wave is ____.

A. ./2,
√ B. 3./2,
C. 3,/2.
D. 2,/.

24. If you blow across the open end of a soda bottle 29. The diagram below represents a view from above
of a tank of water in which parallel wave fronts are
which acts like a closed pipe, and produce a tone of
traveling toward a barrier.
250 Hz, what will be the resonant frequency of the
next harmonic heard if you blow much harder?
A. 125 Hz

B. 250 Hz

C. 500 Hz

√ D. 750 Hz

25. An open pipe of length 50.0 m has standing waves

formed in it. The speed of sound in air is 350 m/s. Which arrow represents the direction of travel for
What is the fundamental frequency of the waves? the wave fronts after being reflected from the
barrier?
A. 1/7 12
A. A
B. 2/7 12
B. B
√ C. 7/2 12
√ C. C
D. 7 12
D. D
12
 33. When water waves enters a shallow region from a
deep region, there must be a change in the wave’s____.

A. color
B. period
√ C. speed

D. frequency

Answer the following questions

1. Constructive and destructive interference are a result of superposition of two or more waves.

a. What is the difference between constructive and destructive interference?

In constructive interference, a crest meets a crest or a trough meets a trough, resulting in a larger crest or
trough. Re-enforcement occurs and the resultant amplitude is the algebraic sum of each wave’s amplitude.

In destructive interference, a crest meets a trough and results in cancellation hence a smaller disturbance
than either of the two interacting waves

13
 b. The figures in the table below show interference between two wave pulses. Complete the table by
identifying the type of interference and the amplitude produced as a result of the interference.

Wave pulses before and during interference Type of Amplitude of

interference the Resultant
Wave

Constructive 2 units

Destructive 0 units

2. The diagram below represents two pulses traveling toward each other in a uniform medium.

a. Is the interference between points A and B constructive or destructive?

Desstructive interference

b. What is the resultant amplitude?

1.0% − 0.40 = 0.60 %

c. On the grid above, draw the resultant displacement of the medium when both pulses are located between
points A and B.

d. The graph below shows three waveforms, 7! , 7% , 89: 7$ .

14
 i. Which one is the resultant of the other two waves? Explain your choice.
7$ is the resultant waveforms because its amplitude is the sum (or difference) of the amplitudes of
the other two waves at all points.

ii. State the conditions needed for two waves to interfere and produce a standing wave.
• The two waves need to be of identical type, amplitude and frequency
• They should travel in opposite directions
• Resonance occurs

3. The diagrams in the table below represent two identical wave pulses approaching each other in a uniform
medium.
a. Complete the table below, identifying the type of interference, the resulting amplitude and the formation of
node/antinode at P when the waves are superposed.

Approaching wave pulses Type of Resulting Node or

Interference Amplitude Antinode at
P
Constructive 4+4= Antinode
interference 8$%

Destructive 6−6=0 Node

interference

b. State the principle of superposition of waves.

The principle of superposition of waves states that when two or more waves of the same kind
meet at a point in space, the resultant displacement at that point is the
vector sum of the displacements that the two waves would separately produce at that point

4. Explain the difference between a node and an antinode on a displacement graph.

A node is the stationary point where two equal wave pulses meet and are in the same location. An antinode is the
place of largest displacement when two wave pulses meet. In the pressure graphs, the nodes are regions of mean
atmospheric pressure. At the antinodes, the pressure oscillates between its maximum and minimum values. In the
case of the displacement graph, the antinodes are regions of high displacement and the nodes are regions of low
displacement.

15
5. A boy creates standing waves on a rope by shaking one end of it vertically. The other end of the rope is fixed to a
wall. The distance from the boy’s hand to the wall is 2.4 % and he shakes the end of the rope with a period of 0.5 =.

A A A A

N N N N N

a. Answer the questions in the table below regarding the standing waves formed on the rope.

2.4 %
What is the wavelength of the waves? (= = 1.2 %
2
1
What is the frequency of the waves? -= = 2.0 12
0.5 =

The standing wave represents which harmonic? 4th Harmonic

- 2.0
What is its fundamental frequency? -" = = = 0.5 12
4 4

b. Calculate the speed of the waves traveling along the rope.

. = -( = (2.0 12)(1.2 %) = 2.4 %/=

c. Mark all the nodes with the letter @ and all the antinodes with the letter A on the figure above.
5 nodes and 4 antinodes marked correctly as shown on the diagram.

6. The diagram shows standing waves formed on a stretched string of length , = 12 %. The speed of waves on this
string is . = 24%/=.

a. Calculate the wavelength of the waves.

2, 2 × 12
(' = = = 6.0 %
9 4

b. Calculate the frequency of the harmonic shown in the figure above.

. 24
-( = = = 4.0 12
(( 6

c. Find the fundamental frequency of the oscillations.

-( = 4-!
-( 4.0 12
-! = = = 1 12
4 4

16
7. The third harmonic of a guitar string has a frequency of 240 Hz and the speed of the waves on the string is
120 m/s.
a. Draw the corresponding standing wave formed in the space below.

b. Calculate the wavelength of the waves.

. 120
(= = = 0.5 %
- 240

c. What is the length of the string?

3( 3 × 0.5
,= = = 0.75 %
2 2

8. The diagram shows standing waves formed on a stretched string. The speed of waves on this string is 50.0 %/=.
a. Calculate the length of the string if the wavelength is 10.0 m.
2, 9('
(' = ⇒,=
9 2
5 × 10.0 %
,= = 25 %
2

b. Calculate the frequency of the harmonic shown in the figure above.

. 50.0
-* = = = 5.0 12
(( 10.0

c. Find the fundamental frequency of the oscillations.

-* = 5-!
-( 5.0 12
-! = = = 1 12
5 5

d. Calculate the frequency of the 6th harmonic.

-* = 6-! = 6(1 12 ) = 6 12

9. One end of a rope is attached to a variable speed drill and the other end is attached to a 5.0-kilogram mass. The
rope is draped over a hook on a wall opposite the drill. When the drill rotates at a frequency of 20.0 Hz, standing
waves of the same frequency are set up in the rope. The diagram below shows such a wave pattern.

a. Describe the production of standing waves in strings

When the frequency is just right, the reflected waves interfere constructively and resonance occurs. Energy is
transferred to the system at its natural frequency and the standing wave is formed.

17
 b. Identify the harmonic formed on the rope.
3rd Harmonic

c. Mark the nodes and antinodes on the diagram above.

Points Marked: Zero displacements (4 points) as nodes and maximum displacements as Antinodes (3
points).

d. Determine the wavelength of the waves producing the standing wave pattern.
3(
,=
2
2, 2(3.0%)
(= = = 2.0 %
3 3

e. What is the distance between:

(i) two adjacent antinodes
( 2.0
Distance between two adjacent antinodes or two adjacent nodes = = = 1.0 %
2 2

(ii) a node and the adjacent antinode

( 2.0
Distance between a node and the adjacent antinodes = = = 0.5 %
4 4

f. Calculate the speed of the wave in the rope.

. = -(
. = 20.0 12 × 2.0 % = 40 %/=

10. A musician plucks a 0.620 % long string on an acoustic guitar, as represented in the diagram below. The
plucked string vibrates, producing a standing wave with a frequency of 196 12.

a. On the diagram of the standing wave above, label all the nodes with the letter N and the antinodes with the
letter A.

b. Determine the wavelength of the standing wave on the 0.620 % long vibrating string.
(
,=
2
( = 2, = 2 × 0.620 = 1.24 %
c. Calculate the speed of the wave traveling on the vibrating string.
. = -( = (196 12)(1.24 %) = 243 %/=

d. Describe what happens to the frequency when the musician shortens the vibrating portion of the string by
pinching the string against the fingerboard while the string continues to vibrate.
18
 It increases/ The frequency gets higher

11. The figure below shows a string vibrating in the sixth harmonic. The length of the string is 1.0 m. What is the
wavelength of the wave on the string?
6(
,=
2
, 1.0 %
⇒(= = = 0.33 %
3 3
12. Standing waves are created in the four strings shown in the figure below. All strings have the same mass per
unit length and are under the same tension. The lengths of the strings (L) are given. Rank the frequencies of the
oscillations, from largest to smallest.
Because wave speeds are the same, the largest
wavelength has the smallest frequency.
Wavelengths are
T: 18 $%,
V: 15 $%,
W: 20 $%,
X: 12 $%,
So, the frequency rankings are X > V > T > W

13. A pipe closed at one end is 5.0 m long and produces odd harmonics only. Consider 300 m/s as the speed of
sound in air.

a. In the three closed tubes below, draw standing waves formed due to the air displacements that show the
first three harmonics formed.

4, 4,
( = 4,, (= , (=
3 5

b. Under each of the tube, write the wavelength of the standing wave in terms of L.

c. Determine the frequencies of the first three harmonics.

. 300
-! = = = 15 12
4, 4 × 5.0
 Refraction

b. A wave with a frequency of 1.1 Hz travels through deep water at a speed of 5.7 m/s. When the wave enters
a shallow region, its speed slows down to 3.2 m/s. What is the wavelength of the wave in the shallow
water?
. 3.2 %/=
(= = = 2.0
- 1.1 12

19. The wave fronts below formed in a ripple tank move from region A to region B of different depth.
a. Explain why the waves change direction?
The waves change direction due to refraction when they enter
the water of different depth.

b. Which region A or B is less deep (shallow)?

Region B is less deep

c. What are the quantities that change for the waves that enter
from region A to region B?
The speed and wavelength decreases

d. What will happen to each of the quantities below as the waves

move from region A to B?

Speed: Decreases
Wavelength: Decreases
Frequency: Stays the same
Direction: Changes

22