Week 21 questions Name:…………………………………………… /44
1. It has been suggested that tigers use infrasound – low frequency sounds inaudible to humans – to keep
rivals away from their territory and to attract mates.
Sound is a longitudinal wave. Describe how sound travels through the air.
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(3)
State what is meant by frequency.
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(1)
The frequency range of the sound produced by the tigers extends down to 18 Hz. Calculate the
–1
wavelength in air for sounds of this frequency. Speed of sound in air = 330 m s .
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(2)
(Total 6 marks)
2. The diagram shows the shape of a wave on a stretched rope at one instant of time. The wave is travelling
to the right.
D ire c tio n o f tr a v e l o f w a v e
0 .0 0 0 .2 0 0 .4 0 0 .6 0 0 .8 0 1 .0 0 1 .2 0 1 .4 0
D is ta n c e /m
Determine the wavelength of the wave.
Wavelength = .........................................................
Mark on the diagram a point on the rope whose motion is exactly out of phase with the motion at point A.
Label this point X.
Mark on the diagram a point on the rope which is at rest at the instant shown. Label this point Y.
Draw an arrow on the diagram at point C to show the direction in which the rope at C is moving at the
instant shown.
(4)
–1
The wave speed is 3.2 m s . After how long will the rope next appear exactly the same as in the diagram
above?
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(2)
(Total 6 marks)
3. (a) Explain with the aid of a diagram why transverse waves can be plane polarised but longitudinal
waves cannot be plane polarised.
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(3)
(b) (i) A filament lamp is observed directly and then through a sheet of Polaroid. Describe and
explain the effect of the sheet of Polaroid on the intensity of the light seen.
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(2)
(ii) The sheet of Polaroid is now rotated in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of the
light. What effect, if any, will this have on the intensity of the light seen?
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(1)
(Total 6 marks)
4. (a) Describe how you would demonstrate that light waves can be polarised. Include a diagram of the
apparatus that you would use. Describe fully what you would observe.
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(5)
(b) State why it is not possible to polarise sound waves.
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(1)
(Total 6 marks)
5. (a) Ultrasound images of the body are a useful diagnostic tool for doctors. A single transducer can be
used both to send and receive pulses of ultrasound.
The diagram shows a lateral cross-section through part of the abdomen. The diagram is not to
scale.
A b d o m in a l
w a ll
In te rn a l
T ra n sd u c e r o rg a n
A B C D
2 cm 5 cm 10 cm
(i) Calculate the time interval between sending out a single pulse and receiving its echo from
–1
interface B. The speed of ultrasound in the abdominal wall is 1500 m s .
(3)
(ii) The time between pulses being emitted by the transducer is 200 μs. At what frequency are
the pulses emitted?
(2)
(iii) The time interval before the echo returns from interface D is 250 μs. Suggest why this time
interval will make reflections from D difficult to interpret and what could be done to
overcome this problem.
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(3)
(iv) State one reason why ultrasound rather than X-rays is now used to scan expectant mothers.
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(1)
(Total 9 marks)
6. The photograph sequence shows a ripple spreading out over the surface of the sun, following an event
similar to an earthquake somewhere within it. The interval between each successive frame is 10 minutes.
A distance scale is marked beside each frame.
Measure the diameter of the dark ring of the ripple in frames 1 and 2 in mm.
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(1)
Show that in the time interval between frames 1 and 2, the ripple travels about 25 ×10 6 m.
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(2)
Hence calculate a speed in m s–1 for the ripple from frame 1 to frame 2.
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(3)
How could a physicist check whether the speed of the ripple was constant?
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(1)
The diagram shows a cross-section of part of the ripple for the first photograph.
D is p la c e m e n t o f
S u n 's s u r f a c e
0
D is ta n c e f r o m
e p ic e n tre
On the diagram, mark and label the wavelength and amplitude.
(2)
The wavelength is 1.4 × 107 m. Calculate the frequency of the waves.
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(2)
(Total 11 marks)
