1. Two identical triangular pulses of amplitude X travel toward each other along a string.

At the
instant shown on the diagram below, point M is midway between the two pulses.

X
X M

The amplitude of the disturbance in the string as the pulses move through M is

A. 2X.

B. X.

X
C. .
2

D. 0.
(1)

2. A pulse is sent down a string fixed at one end.

Which one of the following diagrams best represents the reflected pulse?

A. B.

C. D.

(1)

1
3. A plane wave approaches and passes through the boundary between two media. The speed of
the wave in medium 1 is greater than that in medium 2. Which one of the following diagrams
correctly shows the wavefronts?

A. B.

Medium 1 Medium 1

Medium 2 Medium 2

C. D.

Medium 1 Medium 1

Medium 2
Medium 2
(1)

4. When a wave crosses the boundary between two media, which one of the following properties
of the wave does not change?

A. Amplitude

B. Wavelength

C. Frequency

D. Speed
(1)

2
5. Two lamps producing light of the same colour are placed close to one another. A two source
interference pattern is not observed because

A. the lamps do not emit light of a single frequency.

B. the phase difference between the light from the lamps is continually changing.

C. the intensity of the light emitted by the lamps is not the same.

D. the two lamps are not exact point sources.

(1)

6. The diagram below shows two wave pulses moving towards one another.

Which one of the following diagrams shows the resultant pulse when the two pulses are
superposed?

A. B.

C. D.

(1)

3
7. What change, if any, occurs in the wavelength and frequency of a light wave as it crosses a
boundary from air into glass?

Wavelength Frequency

A. Decreases Decreases

B. Decreases Unchanged

C. Increases Increases

D. Increases Unchanged
(1)

8. The variation with time t of the separate displacements d of a point in a medium due to two
waves is shown below.

d
+2a

+a

0
t
–a

–2a

d
+a

0
t
–a

4
 The waves are superposed. Which of the following diagrams shows the variation with time t of
the resultant displacement d of the point in the medium?

A. d B. d
+a +a

0 0
t t
–a –a

C. d D. d
+3a +3a

+2a +2a

+a +a

0 0
t t
–a –a

–2a –2a
–3a –3a
(1)

9. The wavelength of a progressive transverse wave is defined as

A. the distance between a crest and its neighbouring trough.

B. the distance between any two crests of the wave.

C. the distance moved by a wavefront during one oscillation of the source.

D. the distance moved by a particle in the wave during one oscillation of the source.
(1)

5
10. A water surface wave (ripple) is travelling to the right on the surface of a lake. The wave has
period T. The diagram below shows the surface of the lake at a particular instant of time. A
piece of cork is floating in the water in the position shown.

T
Which is the correct position of the cork a time later?
4

cork

A. B.

C. D.
(1)

11. A wave is travelling through a medium. The diagram shows the variation with time t of the
displacement d of a particle of the medium from t = 0 to t = 25 ms.

1.5

1
d/cm
0.5

00 5 10 15 20 25

–0.5 t/ms

–1

–1.5

Which of the following correctly gives the frequency and the amplitude of the wave?

frequency / Hz amplitude / cm

A. 2.0 × 10–2 2.0

B. 2.0 × 10–2 1.0

C. 50 2.0

D. 50 1.0
(1)

6
12. The diagram below shows the displacement-position graph at a particular instant for a
longitudinal wave travelling along a spring.

displacement to right + C

0
0 B D position
displacement to left – A

A positive displacement on the graph indicates that the coils of the spring are displaced to the
right of their equilibrium position.

At which position along the spring is the displacement of two adjacent coils a maximum?

A. A

B. B

C. C

D. D
(1)

13. Which of the following correctly describes the change, if any, in the speed, wavelength and
frequency of a light wave as it passes from air into glass?

Speed Wavelength Frequency

A. decreases decreases unchanged

B. decreases unchanged decreases

C. unchanged increases decreases

D. increases increases unchanged

(1)

7
14. This question is about sound waves.

A sound wave of frequency 660 Hz passes through air. The variation of particle displacement
with distance along the wave at one instant of time is shown below.

0.5

displacement / mm 00 distance / m
1.0 2.0

–0.5

(a) State whether this wave is an example of a longitudinal or a transverse wave.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Using data from the above graph, deduce for this sound wave,

(i) the wavelength.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) the amplitude.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

8
 (iii) the speed.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

15. Wave properties

(a) By reference to the energy of a travelling wave, state what is meant by

(i) a ray.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) wave speed.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement xA of wave A as it
passes through a point P.

Wave A
3.0

2.0

1.0

xA / mm 0.0
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 t / ms
–1.0

–2.0

–3.0

9
The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement xB of wave B as it
passes through point P.

Wave B

2.0

1.0

xB / mm 0.0
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 t / ms
–1.0

–2.0

(i) Calculate the frequency of the waves.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) The waves pass simultaneously through point P. Use the graphs to determine the
resultant displacement at point P of the two waves at time t = 1.0 ms and at time t
= 8.0 ms.

At t = 1.0 ms: ...............................................................................................

...............................................................................................

At t = 8.0 ms: ...............................................................................................

...............................................................................................
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

10
16. This question is about waves and wave motion.

(a) Describe, by reference to the propagation of energy, what is meant by a transverse wave.

Transverse wave

(2)

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

(b) State one example, other than a wave on a string, of a transverse wave.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

A transverse wave is travelling along a string that is under tension. The diagram below shows
the displacement of part of the string at time t = 0. The dotted line shows the position of the
string when there is no wave travelling along it.

displacement / cm

distance along string / cm

5.0 15 25 35 45

11
(c) On the diagram above, draw lines to identify for this wave

(i) the amplitude (label this A);

(1)

(ii) the wavelength (label this λ).

(1)

(d) The period of the wave is 1.2 × 10–3 s. Deduce that the speed of the wave is 250 m s–1.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(e) Using the axes below, draw the displacement of the string when t = 3.0 × 10–4 s. (The
displacement of the string at t = 0 is shown as a dotted line.)

displacement / cm

distance along string / cm

5.0 15 25 35 45

(3)
(Total 10 marks)

12
17. This question is about wave properties and interference.

The diagram below represents the direction of oscillation of a disturbance that gives rise to a
wave.

(a) By redrawing the diagram in the spaces below, add arrows to show the direction of wave
energy transfer to illustrate the difference between

(i) a transverse wave and

(1)

(ii) a longitudinal wave.

(1)

13
A wave travels along a stretched string. The diagram below shows the variation with distance
along the string of the displacement of the string at a particular instant in time. A small marker
is attached to the string at the point labelled M. The undisturbed position of the string is shown
as a dotted line.

Directions of wave travel

(b) On the diagram above

(i) draw an arrow to indicate the direction in which the marker is moving.
(1)

(ii) indicate, with the letter A, the amplitude of the wave.

(1)

(iii) indicate, with the letter λ, the wavelength of the wave.

(1)

T
(iv) draw the displacement of the string a time later, where T is the period of
4
oscillation of the wave. Indicate, with the letter N, the new position of the marker.
(2)

The wavelength of the wave is 5.0 cm and its speed is 10 cm s–1.

(c) Determine

(i) the frequency of the wave.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

14
 T
(ii) how far the wave has moved in s.
4
(2)

Interference of waves

(d) By reference to the principle of superposition, explain what is meant by constructive

interference.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 14 marks)

18. This question is about waves and wave properties.

(a) By making reference to waves, distinguish between a ray and a wavefront.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(3)

15
The diagram below shows three wavefronts incident on a boundary between medium I and
medium R. Wavefront CD is shown crossing the boundary. Wavefront EF is incomplete.

A C E

F
medium I

medium R

B D

(b) (i) On the diagram above, draw a line to complete the wavefront EF.
(1)

(ii) Explain in which medium, I or R, the wave has the higher speed.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(iii) By taking appropriate measurements from the diagram, determine the ratio of the
speeds of the wave travelling from medium I to medium R.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

16
The graph below shows the variation with time t of the velocity v of one particle of the medium
through which the wave is travelling.

2
v / ms–1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
–2 t / ms

–4

–6

–8

(c) (i) Explain how it can be deduced from the graph that the particle is oscillating.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Determine the frequency of oscillation of the particle.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) Mark on the graph with the letter M one time at which the particle is at maximum
displacement.
(1)

(iv) Estimate the area between the curve and the x-axis from the time t = 0 to the time
t = 1.5 ms.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

17
(v) Suggest what the area in c (iv) represents.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 17 marks)

18