Practice Questions Section 1

1.

The diagram shows a snapshot of a wave on a rope travelling from left to right.

At the instant shown, point P is at maximum displacement and point Q is at zero displacement.
Which one of the following lines, A to D, in the table correctly describes the motion of P and Q
in the next half-cycle?

falls then rises

rises

falls then rises

rises then falls

falls

falls

falls

rises then falls

2.

d is p la c e m e n t
up

R
P

d is ta n c e
fro m so u rc e

dow n
The graph shows, at a particular instant, the variation of the displacement of the particles in a
transverse progressive water wave travelling from left to right. Distance OS is 4cm. Which one
of the following statements is not true?
A

The distance PS = 3 cm.

The particle velocity at Q is a maximum.

The particle at S is moving downwards.

Particles at P and R are in phase.

Bromsgrove School Physics Department

3.

4.

5.

A wave motion has period T, frequency f, wavelength and speed . Which one of the
following equations is incorrect?
A

1 = Tf

T=

T =

The audible range of a girl's hearing is 30 Hz to 16 500 Hz. If the speed of sound in air is
1
330 m s , what is the shortest wavelength of sound in air which the girl can hear?
A

30
m
330

16 500
m
330

330
m
16 500

330
m
30

A source emits light of wavelength 600 nm as a train of waves lasting 0.01 s. How many
complete waves are sent out?
8
1
speed of light = 3 10 m s
A
B
C
D

6.

5 10
7
18 10
9
5 10
22
5 10

A progressive wave in a stretched string has a speed of 20 m s and a frequency of 100 Hz.
What is the phase difference between two points 25 mm apart?
A

zero

45

90

Bromsgrove School Physics Department

7.

8.

9.

180

A wave of frequency 5 Hz travels at 8 km s

in radians, between two points 2 km apart?
A

zero

90

180

270

through a medium. What is the phase difference,

Two points on a progressive wave differ in phase by 45. The distance between them is 0.5 m,
and the frequency of the oscillation is 10 Hz. What is the minimum speed of the wave?
A

0.2 m s

10 m s

20 m s

40 m s

1
1
1

The speed of sound in water is 1500 m s . For a sound wave in water having frequency
2500 Hz, what is the minimum distance between two points at which the vibrations are 60 out
of phase?
A
B
C
D

0.05 m
0.10 m
0.15 m
0.20 m

Bromsgrove School Physics Department

10.

The diagram below shows the variation of displacement with distance from the source for a
mechanical longitudinal wave at a particular time t.

0 .4 m
(a)

d ire c tio n o f tr a v e l

Describe briefly how the propagation of a mechanical longitudinal wave is different from
a mechanical transverse wave.
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(3)

(b)

Indicate with letters P and Q on the diagram above, two points that are oscillating with a
phase difference of 180.
(1)

(c)

The speed of the wave is 20 m s . Show on the diagram above how the displacement
varies with the distance from the source 5.0 ms later than at the time t shown on the
original graph. Do any calculations needed in the space below.

(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Bromsgrove School Physics Department