1.

A transverse travelling wave has amplitude A0 and wavelength .

The distance between a crest and its neighbouring trough, measured in the direction of energy
transfer of the wave is equal to
A.

A0.

B.

2A0.

C.

2.

D.

.
(1)

2.

One end of a long string is vibrated at a constant frequency f. A travelling wave of wavelength
and speed v is set up on the string.
The frequency of vibration is doubled but the tension in the string is unchanged. Which of the
following shows the wavelength and speed of the new travelling wave?
Wavelength

Speed

A.

B.

2v

C.

D.

2v
(1)

3.

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 4 later?
co rk
A .

B .

C.

D .
(1)

4.

A source produces water waves of frequency 10 Hz. The graph shows the variation with
horizontal position of the vertical displacement of the surface of water at one instant in time.

v e rtic a l d is p la c e m e n t / c m

0 .4
0 0

1 .0

2 .0

3 .0

4 .0

h o riz o n ta l p o s itio n / c m

0 .4

The speed of the water waves is

A.

0.20 cm s1.

B.

4.0 cm s1.

C.

10 cm s1.

D.

20 cm s1.
(1)

5.

Diagram 1 below shows the displacement of part of a medium through which a wave is
travelling at time t = 0. Diagram 2 shows the displacement at a later time t = 4.0 s in which the
wave has moved forward 10 cm. In this time, the point P on the wave has moved from a crest
through zero displacement to a trough.
D ia g ra m 1

D ia g ra m 2

P
The wavelength of the wave is
A.

5.0 cm.

B.

10 cm.

C.

20 cm.

D.

40 cm.
(1)

6.

Which of the following best describes the wave speed of a progressive wave travelling through
a medium?
A.

The maximum speed of the vibrating particles of the medium

B.

The average speed of the vibrating particles of the medium

C.

The speed of the medium through which the wave travels

D.

The speed of transfer of energy through the medium

(1)

7.

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 /c m

0 .5
0 0

10

15

20

25
t/m s

0 .5
1
1 .5

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

amplitude / cm

A.

2.0 102

2.0

B.

2.0 102

1.0

C.

50

2.0

D.

50

1.0
(1)

8.

The diagram below shows a transverse wave on a string. The wave is moving from right to left.
X
Y
d ire c tio n o f w a v e
u p w a rd s

le ft

rig h t
d o w n w ard s

In the position shown, point X has zero displacement and point Y is at a position of maximum
displacement. Which one of the following gives the subsequent direction of motion of point X
and of point Y?
Point X

Point Y

A.

left

left

B.

upwards

upwards

C.

downwards

left

D.

downwards

upwards
(1)

9.

Plane wavefronts are incident on a barrier as shown below.

b a rrie r

Which of the following best shows the shape of the wavefronts on the other side of the barrier?
A .

B.

C .

D .

(1)

10.

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.
W ave A
3 .0
2 .0
1 .0
xA/ m m

0 .0

0 .0

2 .0

4 .0

6 .0

8 .0

1 0 .0

t / m s

1 .0
2 .0
3 .0

The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement xB of wave B as it
passes through point P.
W ave B
2 .0
1 .0
xB/ m m

0 .0

0 .0

2 .0

4 .0

6 .0

8 .0

1 0 .0 t / m s

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)

11.

Waves on a string
A travelling wave is created on a string. The graph below shows the variation with time t of the
displacement y of a particular point on the string.
G raph 1

y / m m

2 .0
1 .0
0 .0

t / m s
0 .0

0 .1

0 .2

0 .3

0 .4

0 .5

1 .0
2 .0
The variation with distance x of the displacement y of the string at t = 0 is shown below.
G raph 2

y / m m

2 .0
1 .0
0 .0

0 .0

0 .1

0 .2

0 .3

0 .4

0 .5

x / cm

1 .0
2 .0
(a)

Use information from the graphs to calculate, for this wave,

(i)

the wavelength;
.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

the frequency;
.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii)

the speed of the wave.

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

(b)

The wave is moving from left to right and has period T.

(i)

On graph 1, draw a labelled line to indicate the amplitude of the wave.

(1)

(ii)

T
t= .
4
On graph 2, draw the displacement of the string at
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

12.

Travelling waves
(a)

Graph 1 below shows the variation with time t of the displacement d of a travelling
(progressive) wave. Graph 2 shows the variation with distance x along the same wave of
its displacement d.
G ra p h 1
d / m m

4
2
0

0 .0

0 .1

0 .2

0 .3

0 .4

0 .5

0 .6
t / s

0 .0

0 .4

0 .8

1 .2

1 .6

2 .0

2 .4
x / cm

2
4
G ra p h 2
d / m m

4
2
0
2
4

(i)

State what is meant by a travelling wave.

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

10

(ii)

Use the graphs to determine the amplitude, wavelength, frequency and speed of the
wave.
Amplitude:

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

Wavelength: .................................................................................................
(1)

Frequency:

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

Speed:

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

11

Refraction of waves
(b)

The diagram below shows plane wavefronts incident on a boundary between two media A
and B.

m e d iu m A
m e d iu m B

refractive index of medium B

is 1.4.
The ratio refractive index of medium A
The angle between an incident wavefront and the normal to the boundary is 50.
(i)

Calculate the angle between a refracted wavefront and the normal to the boundary.
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii)

On the diagram above, construct three wavefronts to show the refraction of the
wave at the boundary.
(3)
(Total 11 marks)

12