GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition

Answers to End-of-chapter questions for Chapter 21, Waves

It is very important that you are able to answer the questions on your own, using your
own knowledge of Physics.
Have a go at the questions first, and then check your answers using this page.
If you get a question wrong, try to work out where you have made an error.

1. a) transverse; longitudinal; transverse, longitudinal

b) distance, peaks/troughs; cycles per second, hertz

2. a) m/s (metres per second), hertz, wavelength, metres

b) diffracted; width (size), wavelength

3. wave speed = frequency × wavelength = 170 Hz × 2 m = 340 m/s

4. a) wave speed = frequency × wavelength = 200 000 Hz × 1500 m

= 3.0 × 108 m/s (300 000 000 m/s)
b) wave speed = frequency × wavelength
300 000 000 m/s = 500 000 Hz × wavelength
wavelength = 600 m

5. time period, T = = = 0.5 s

6. a) wavelength = distance between two troughs = = 2 cm

b) wave speed = frequency × wavelength
6 cm/s = frequency × 2 cm
frequency = 3 Hz

7. See page 172.

8. a) Imagine waves 4 and 5 drawn below the reflector by completing the semi-
circles. Then turn each wave below the reflector ‘upside down’ (ie. reflected)
so that the section of wave below the reflector is now above it.
b) The distance from S to the reflector is 45 mm. In 45 mm there are three

waves. Therefore: wavelength = = 15 mm

c) wave speed = frequency × wavelength
60 mm/s = frequency × 15 mm
frequency = 4 Hz

OUP GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition © Keith Johnson & Sue Holt, 2016 page 1 of 1