Topic 4: Test Oscillations and Waves

Name: ___________________
A1
a

Class:__________

Date:________________

A 5 kg mass on the end of a spring undergoes Simple Harmonic Motion

with an amplitude of 10 cm and a time period of 2 s.
Define what is meant by the term Simple Harmonic Motion.

b
i

Calculate the
Spring constant for the spring.

ii

Maximum acceleration of the mass.

Use the axes below to plot a graph of resultant force against displacement
from mean position for the mass.

Use your graph to calculate the maximum amount of elastic potential

energy stored in the spring as a result of its motion.

A2

The figure shows the displacement-time graph for an unloaded swing when
it was displaced manually and then allowed to vibrate naturally.
Displacement/cm
80
40
0

Time/s

-40
-80

ai

State the feature of the graph which shows that the oscillations are simple
harmonic.

ii

State the feature which shows that the oscillations are damped.

bi

Calculate the natural frequency of the oscillation of the swing.

bii

Calculate the maximum acceleration of the swing during the time interval
shown in the figure.

ci

State what is meant by resonance

cii

Name and outline one example where resonance is useful.

A3

This question is about waves and their various properties. (N01)

Diagram 1 below represents a snapshot of some of the wavefronts of a
continuous plane wave travelling in the direction shown.
Diagram 2 is a sketch-graph that shows how the displacement of the
medium through which the wave is travelling varies with distance along the
medium.
Diagram 1

Diagram 2

a
b

The frequency of the source producing the wave is 10 Hz and the speed of
the wave is 30 cms-1
On diagram 1 mark the wavelength of the waves.
Calculate the value of the wavelength of the waves

1
1

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
c
i

Another snapshot of the wave is taken 0.05 s later.

Determine how far the wavefronts have moved in this time.

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
ii

On diagram 2 sketch another graph to show how the displacement of the

medium now varies with distance along the medium.

A4
a

This question is about the refraction of waves.

State Snells Law.

..........................................................................................................................
b

..........................................................................................................................
A wave travels from medium 1 to medium 2. In medium 1 the wave has a
2
-1
wavelength of 4.0 cm and travels at a speed of 8.0cms . Determine the
frequency of the wave in medium 2.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................
The angle of incidence is 60 and the angle of refraction is 35. Calculate
2
the speed of the wave in medium 2.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................

A5
a

Properties of circular waves on water (N02)

Ripples on water can be considered as transverse waves. Explain what is
meant by a transverse wave.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................
An oscillator with a frequency 3.0 Hz generates ripples on the surface of
water. The ripples spread in circles from the point A as shown in the
diagram, viewed from the top. The distance between wavefronts is 5.0 cm.

Calculate the speed of the ripples.

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
ii

The amplitude of a wave is a measure of the energy carried by the wave.

Explain what you think happens to the amplitude of the ripples as they
spread out in expanding circles from the point A.

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
iii

On the axes below, sketch a graph of the water displacement along a

straight-line from A at a particular instant of time. (Note: This is a sketch
graph; you do not need to add values to the displacement axis.)

iv

Recall the relationship between intensity and amplitude of a wave.

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

The diagram below shows the circular ripples incident on a plane barrier.

On the diagram,
sketch a wavefront that has been reflected from the barrier.

ii

locate the position from where the reflected waves appear to originate.

A6
a

This question is about the diffraction of waves.

Describe an example of diffraction in real life that we may encounter.

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
b

A plane wave approaches a small opening and is diffracted. Discuss what

happens to the wave.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................