AP Physics Multiple Choice Practice Waves and Optics

SECTION A Waves and Sound

1.

Which of the following statements about the speed of waves on a string are true?
I. The speed depends on the tension in the string
II. The speed depends on the frequency
III. The speed depends on the mass per unit length of the string.
A) II only
B) I and II only
C) I and III only
D) II and III only
E) I, II and III

2. A string is firmly attached at both ends. When a

60 Hz is applied, the string vibrates in the standing
shown. Assume the tension in the string and its
length do not change. Which of the following
could NOT also produce a standing wave pattern in
A) 30 Hz
B) 40 Hz
C) 80 Hz
D) 100 Hz
E) 180 Hz
3. Which is not associated with a sound wave?
A) amplitude
B) period
C) polarization

D) velocity

frequency of
wave pattern
mass per unit
frequencies
the string?

E) wavelength

4. A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz. The period of the wave is:

A) 0.010 s
B) 0.20 s
C) 7 s
D) 20 s
E) 0.020 s
5. If the frequency of sound is doubled, the wavelength:
A) halves and the speed remains unchanged
B) doubles and the speed remains unchanged
C) is unchanged and the speed doubles
D) is unchanged and the speed halves
E) halves and the speed halves
6. The standing wave pattern diagrammed to the right is
produced in a string fixed at both ends. The speed of
the string is 2 m/s. What is the frequency of the
wave pattern?
A) 0.25 Hz
B) 1 Hz
C) 2 Hz
D) 4 Hz
E) 8 Hz
7.

Two waves pulses approach each other as seen

figure. The wave pulses overlap at point P.
diagram best represents the appearance of the
pulses as they leave point P?

waves in
standing

in the
Which
wave

8.

If the speed of sound in air is 340 m/s, the length of the organ pipe, open at both ends, that can
resonate at the fundamental frequency of 136 Hz, would be:
A) 0.625 m
B) 0.750 m
C) 1.25 m
D) 2.5 m
E) 3.75 m

9.

String L and string H have the same tension and length. String L has mass m and string H has mass
4m. If the speed of the waves in string L is v, the speed of the waves in string H is
A) v/2
B) v
C) 1.4 v
D) 2v
E) 4v

10. An observer hears a sound with frequency 400 Hz. Its wavelength is approximately
A) 0.85 m
C) 1.2 m
C) 2.75 m
D) 13.6 m
E) 44 m
11. As sound travels from steel into air, both its speed and its:
A) wavelength increase
B) wavelength decrease
D) frequency decrease
E) frequency remain unchanged

C) frequency increase

12. When a train is at rest, both a passenger on the train and a ticket seller at the station agree that the
trains whistle produces sound at a frequency of 120 Hz. When the train is moving away from the
station at 15 m/s, the passenger hears a frequency of ___ Hz and the ticket seller hears a frequency
of ____ Hz.
A) 120, 125
B) 115, 120
C) 120, 120
D) 115, 115
E) 120, 115
13. A pipe that is closed at one end and open at the other resonates at a fundamental frequency of 240
Hz. The next lowest/highest frequency it resonates at is most nearly.
A) 60 Hz
B) 80 Hz
C) 120 Hz
D) 480 Hz
E) 720 Hz
14. Assume that waves are propagating in a uniform medium. If the frequency of the wave source
doubles then
A) The speed of the waves doubles B) the wavelength do the waves doubles C) the speed of the
waves halves
D) the wavelength of the waves halves E) none of the above
Questions 1516: A natural horn (trumpet with no valves) is similar to a pipe open at both ends. A
musician plans to create a fundamental frequency of 256 Hz (middle C) using the horn.
15. If sound travels at 350 m/s, what must be the length of this horn?
A) 0.34 m
B) 0.68 m
C) 0.78 m
D) 1.36 m
E) 1.46 m
16. A talented musician can produce a number of overtones on this natural horn. What would be the
frequency of the fourth overtone produce when the musician is playing a middle C fundamental?
A) 512 Hz
B) 768 Hz
C) 1024 Hz
D) 1280 Hz
E) 1536 Hz
17. One stereo loudspeaker produces a sound with a wavelength of 0.68 meters while the other speaker
produces sound with a wavelength of 0.65 m. What would be the resulting beat frequency?
A) 3 Hz
B) 23 Hz
C) 66.5 Hz
D) 500 Hz
E) 11333 Hz
18. The diagram shows two transverse pulses moving along a string. One pulse is moving to the right
and the second is moving
to the left.
Both pulses reach point x
at the same
instant. What would be
the resulting
motion of point x as the
two pulses
pass each other?
A) up then down
B) down then up
C) up, down, up
D) down, up, down
E) there would be no motion, the pulses cancel one another

Question 1920:
The diagrams below represent 5 different standing sound waves set up inside of a set of organ pipes 1
m long

19. What is the length of the longest wavelength shown?

A) 0.5 m
B) 0.75 m
C) 1 m
D) 2 m
E) 4m
20. Which organ pipe(s) shows a standing wave which has twice the frequency of one of the other
waves shown?
A) Cy
B) Cz
C) Ox
D) Oy
E) Cy , Cz, Ox, Oy
Question 2122: The graph below was produced by a microphone in front of a tuning fork. It shows the
voltage produced from the microphone as a function of time.

21. The frequency of the tuning fork is (approximately)

A) 0.0039 s
B) 0.020 s
C) 2.55 Hz
D) 50 Hz

E) 256 Hz

22. In order to calculate the speed of sound from the graph, you would also need to know
A) pitch
B) volume
C) frequency
D) wavelength
E) length of tube
23. A metal bar is vibrating with a frequency of 200 Hz. The resulting period of oscillation would be
A) 200 s
B) 141 s
C) 0.007 s
D) 0.002 s
E) none of the above

24. A tube is open at both ends with the air oscillating in the 4 th harmonic. How many displacement
nodes are located within the tube?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
E) 6
125. Two separate strings of the same thickness are stretched so that they experience the same
tension. String B is twice as dense as String A. String A, of length L, is vibrated at the fundamental
frequency. How long is String B if it has the same fundamental frequency as String A?
(a) L
(b)
(c) L
(d)
(e) 2L

2L

2
26. A resonance occurs with a tuning fork and an air column of size
39 cm. The next highest resonance occurs with an air column of
65 cm. What is the frequency of the tuning fork? Assume that the
speed of sound is 343 m/s.
(a) 329.8 Hz
(b) 527.7 Hz
(c) 659.6 Hz
(d) 879.5 Hz
(e) 1319 Hz
27. A place of zero displacement on a standing wave is called
(a) an antinode.
(b) a node.
(c) the amplitude.
(d) the wavenumber.
(e) the harmonic.
28. A person vibrates the end of a string sending transverse waves down the string. If the person then
doubles the rate at which he vibrates the string while maintaining the same tension , the speed of
the waves
(a) doubles and the wavelength is unchanged
(b) doubles and the wavelength doubled
(c) doubles while the wavelength is halved
(d) is unchanged while the wavelength is doubled
(e) is unchanged while the wavelength is halved.
29. A tube of length L1 is open at both ends. A second tube of length L2 is closed at one end and open at
the other end. This second tube resonates at the same fundamental frequency as the first tube.
What is the value of L2 ?
A) 4L1
B) 2L1
C) L1
D) L1
E) L1
30. For a standing wave mode on a string fixed at both ends, adjacent antinodes are separated by a
distance of 20cm. Waves travel on this string at a speed of 1200 cm/s. At what frequency is the
string vibrated to produce this standing wave?
(A) 120 Hz
(B) 60 Hz
(C) 40 Hz
(D) 30 Hz
(E) 20 Hz
31. What would be the wavelength of the fundamental and first two overtones produced by an organ
pipe of length L that is closed at one end and open at the other?
A) L, L, L
B) L, L, 1/6 L
C) 2L, L, L
D) 4L, 2L, L
E) 4L, 4/3 L, 4/5 L

32.

A small vibrating object S moves across the surface of a ripple tank producing the wave fronts
shown above. The wave fronts move with speed v. The object is traveling in what direction and with
what speed relative to the speed of the wave fronts produced?
Direction
Speed
(A) To the right
Equal to v
(B) To the right
Less than v
(C) To the right
Greater than v
(D) To the left
Less than v
(E) To the left
Greater than v

33.

A cord of fixed length and uniform density, when held between two fixed points under tension T,
vibrates with a fundamental frequency f. If the tension is doubled, the fundamental frequency is
(A) 2f
( B)
(C) f
( D)
(E)
f
f
2f
2
2

34.

A vibrating tuning fork sends sound waves into the air surrounding it. During the time in which
the tuning fork makes one complete vibration, the emitted wave travels
(A) one wavelength
(B) about 340 meters
(C) a distance directly proportional to the frequency of the vibration
(D) a distance directly proportional to the square root of the air density
(E) a distance inversely proportional to the square root of the pressure

35. Two wave pulses, each of wavelength

traveling toward each other along a
shown. When both pulses are in the
between points X and Y, which are a
apart, the shape of the rope is

36.

, are
rope as
region
distance

A train whistle has a frequency of 100 hertz as heard by the engineer on the train. Assume that
the velocity of sound in air is 330 meters per second. If the train is approaching a stationary listener
on a windless day at a velocity of 30 meters per second, the whistle frequency that the listener
hears is most nearly
(A) 90 Hz
(B) 110 Hz
(C) 120 Hz
(D) 240 Hz
(E) 300 Hz

37.

Two sinusoidal functions of time are combined to obtain the result shown in the figure above.
Which of the following can best be explained by using this figure?
(A) Beats
(B) Doppler effect
(C) Diffraction
(D) Polarization
(E) Simple harmonic motion

Questions 38-39

A standing wave of frequency 5 hertz is set up on a string 2 meters long with nodes at both ends and in
the center, as shown above.
38. The speed at which waves propagate on the string is
(A) 0.4 m/s
(B) 2.5 m/s
(C) 5 m/s
(D) 10 m/s

(E) 20 m/s

39. The fundamental frequency of vibration of the string is

(A) I Hz
(B) 2.5 Hz
(C) 5 Hz
(D) 7.5 Hz
(E) 10 Hz
40.

Sound in air can best be described as which of the following types of waves?
(A) Longitudinal
(B) Transverse
(C) Torsional
(D) Electromagnetic
(E) Polarized

41.

In the Doppler effect for sound waves, factors that affect the frequency that the observer hears
include which of the following?
I. The speed of the source
II. The speed of the observer
III. The loudness of the sound
(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

42.

The figure above shows two wave pulses that are approaching each other. Which of the following
best shows the shape of the resultant pulse when the centers of the pulses, points P and Q coincide?

43.

One end of a horizontal string is fixed to a wall. A transverse wave pulse is generated at the
other end, moves toward the wall as shown and is reflected at the wall. Properties of the reflected
pulse include which of the following?
I. It has a greater speed than that of the incident pulse.
II. It has a greater amplitude than that of the incident pulse.
III. It is on the opposite side of the string from the incident pulse.
(A) I only

44.

(B) III only

(C) I and II only

(D) II and III only

A small vibrating object on the surface of a ripple tank is

of waves of frequency 20 Hz and speed 60 cm/s. If the
moving to the right, as shown, with speed 20 cm/s, at which
labeled points will the frequency measured by a stationary
greatest?
(A) A
(B) B
(C) C
(D) D
(E) It will be the same at all four points.

(E) I, II, and III

the source
source S is
of the
observer be

45. The frequencies of the first two overtones (second and third harmonics) of a vibrating string are f
and 3f/2 .What is the fundamental frequency of this string?
(A) f/3
(B) f/2
(C) f
(D) 2f
(E) 3f
46. Two fire trucks have sirens that emit waves of the same frequency. As the fire trucks approach a
person, the person hears a higher frequency from truck X than from truck Y. Which of the following
statements about truck X can be correctly inferred from this information
I. It is traveling faster than truck Y
II. It is close to the person than the truck Y
III. It is speeding up, and truck Y is slowing down.
(A) I only

(B) III only

(C) I and II only

(D) II and III only

(E) I, II and III

Questions 4748:
The figure above shows a transverse wave traveling to the
right at a particular instant of time. The period of the
wave is 0.2 s.

47. What is the amplitude of the wave?

(A) 4 cm
(B) 5 cm
(C) 8 cm
(D) 10 cm
48. What is the speed of the wave?
(A) 4 cm/s
(B) 25 cm/s
(C) 50 cm/s

(E) 16 cm

(D) 100 cm/s

(E) 200 cm/s

49. A standing wave pattern is created on a guitar string as a person tunes the guitar by changing the
tension in the string. Which of the following properties of the waves on the string will change as a
result of adjusting only the tension in the string?
I. Speed of the traveling wave that creates the pattern
II. Frequency of the standing wave
III. Wavelength of the standing wave
(A) I only

(B) II only

(C) I and II only

(D) II and III only

(E) I, II, and III

50. A tuning fork is used to create standing waves in a tube open at the top and partially filled with
water. A resonance is heard when the water level is at a certain height. The next resonance is heard
when the water level has been lowered by 0.5 m. If the speed of sound is equal to 340 m/s, the
frequency of the tuning fork is
(A) 170 Hz
(B) 226 Hz
(C) 340 Hz
(D) 680 Hz
(E) 2450 Hz

AP Physics Multiple Choice Practice Waves and Optics ANSWERS

SECTION A Waves and Sound
Answer

Solution
v

1.
Based on the formula

Ft
m
l

2.

The given diagram is the 3rd harmonic at 60 Hz. That means the fundamental
is 20Hz. The other possible standing waves should be multiples of 20

3.

A fact, sound cannot be polarized since its longitudinal

4.

Use T = 1/f

5.

Frequency and wavelength are inverses

6.

From diagram, wavelength = 0.5 m. Find the frequency with v = f

7.

After waves interfere they move along as if they never met

8.

9.
10.

For an openopen pipe the harmonic frequency is given by.

n=1

fn

nv
2 L with

Ft
m
l

Based on
4x the mass gives the velocity
Speed of sound is 340, use v = f

A
A

11.

When sound travels into less dense medium, its speed decreases (unlike
light) however, like all waves when traveling between two mediums, the
frequency remains constant. Based on
v = f , if the speed decreases and the frequency is constant then the must
decrease also.

12.

Doppler effect. Since the passenger is on the train moving with the sound,
the frequency is unaltered, but since the sound is moving away from the
station, people at the station should hear a lower frequency.

13.

Openclosed pipes only have odd multiples of harmonic so next f is 3x f 1

14.

15.
16.

For a given medium, speed is constant. Doubling the frequency halves the
wavelength

fn

nv
2 L with n = 1, solve for L

Using
The fourth overtone is the fifth harmonic, 5 x the fundamental.

B
D

17.

Determine each separate frequency using the speed of sound as 340 and v =
f . Then subtract the two frequencies to get the beat frequency.

18.

Step the two pulses through each other a little bit at a time and use
superposition to see how the amplitudes add. At first the amplitude jumps
up rapidly, then the amplitude moves down as the rightmost negative pulse
continues to propagate. At the very end of their passing the amplitude would
be all the wave down and then once they pass the point will jump back up to
equilibrium

19.

Cx is only of a wavelength. To make a full wavelength you would need 4x

the current length

20.

Wavelengths of each are (dist/cycle) 4L, 4/3 L, 4/5 L, L, 2/3 L

Frequencies are f = v/ .
v/4L, 3v/4L, 5v/4L, v/L, 3v/2L Oy is 2x Cy

21.

f = cycles / seconds

22.

To use v = f , you also need the

23.

T = 1/f

24.

To produce pipe harmonics, the ends are always antinodes. The first
(fundamental) harmonic is when there are two antinodes on the end and one
node in-between. To move to each next harmonic, add another node in the
middle and fill in the necessary antinodes. (ex, 2 nd harmonic is ANANA So
the 4th harmonic would be ANANANANA and have four nodes. Alternative
solution if you know what the harmonics look like you can draw them and
manually count the nodes.

25.

The Fundamental is given by

fn

nv
2 L (n=1), and the velocity is given by

Ft
m
l .

2x the density means 2x the m/L so that the velocity of the second string is
smaller compared to the first string by v2 = v1 / 2. The first string length is
L1 = 2f/v1, the second string length is
L2=2f/(v1 / 2). So comparing the two we have L2 = L1 / 2
26.

This is an openclosed pipe. Look at the harmonics shown below. Since the
same tuning fork is used in each case, the frequency for all of them is the
same, and since they all travel at the same speed with equal frequencies, the
wavelength of each wave is also the same (though each has a different
number of wavelengths fitting in the tube, the wavelength of each is same).
But, the lengths of the tubes vary using the water to make each successive
harmonic and fit the necessary numbers of wavelengths in each tube.

Looking at the diagrams, we can see that each

harmonic is a wavelength longer than the next,
regardless of which ones we are looking at. We
dont have to know which harmonics we are
looking at if we know the difference between any
two of them because each harmonic has the
same difference of . So the difference in
length between any two consecutive harmonics is
equal to the wavelength of the wave. L =
Using this relationship, we have:

(65 cm 39 cm) =
= 52 cm
Now using v = f we have 343 = f (0.52) the
frequency of the wave is 659.6 Hz.

27.

Definition of a node

28.

Since the medium stays the same the speed remains constant. Based on v =
f , for constant speed, f and change as inverses.

29.

Similar to problem 26, we should look at the harmonic shapes openopen vs

openclosed.

L1

L2
Comparing the fundamental harmonic of the openopen
pipe to the closedopen pipe. The closedopen pipe
should be half as long as the openopen pipe in order to fit
the proper number of wavelengths of the same waveform
to produce the given harmonic in each.

30.

Two antinodes by definition will be apart. So 20 cm = , and the =

40 cm. Then using
v = f we have 1200 = f (40)

31.

This is similar to question 26, except now the length of the tube remains
constant and the wave is changing within the tube to make each successive
waveform (this would be like using different tuning forks each time for the
same tube). The diagrams would look like this now:

1
Each is given by = dist /
cycle
So
1 = 4L
3 = 4/3 L
5 = 4/5 L

32.

Doppler effect. The waves at right are compressed because the object is
moving right. However, the waves are moving faster than the object since
they are out in front of where the object is.

33.
The Fundamental is given by

fn

nv
2 L (n=1), and the velocity is given by

Ft
m
l .

Doubling the tension, changes the speed to 2 v comparatively, and makes

the frequency increase by the same amount.
34.

The time to make 1 cycle, is also the time it takes the wave to travel 1 .

35.

Superpose the two waves on top of each other to get the answer.

36.

Use the Doppler equation

where v = vsnd and we use the top signs of the
(v vobs )
denominator and numerator equation since we
f ' f
are moving towards the observer. The observer
(v vsrc )
is not moving so Vobs = 0

f = 100Hz (330)/(330-30) = 110 Hz

37.

This diagram is associated with beats. The increasing and decreasing

amplitude caused by interference oscillates the volume up and down which
creates the beat sound.

38.

Based on the diagram, the is clearly 2m. Plug into v = f .

39.

The diagram shows the second harmonic in the string. Since harmonics are
multiples, the first harmonic would be half of this.

40.

Simple fact

41.

A fact about the Doppler effect. Can also be seen from the Doppler equation.

42.

Use superposition and overlap the waves to see the resultant.

43.

When hitting a fixed boundary, some of the wave is absorbed, some is

reflected inverted. The reflected wave has less amplitude since some of the
wave is absorbed, but since the string has not changed its properties the
speed of the wave should remain unchanged.

44.

Clearly at point C the waves are compressed so are more frequent.

45.

Harmonics are multiples of the fundamental so the fundamental must be f/2.

46.

Based on the Doppler effect, only speed matters. The faster a vehicle is
moving, the closer together the sound waves get compressed and the higher
the frequency. Take the case of a very fast vehicle traveling at the speed of
sound; the compressions are all right on top of each other. So faster speed
means closer compressions and higher frequencies. Choice I must be true
because X is a higher frequency so must be going faster. Distance to the

person affects the volume but not the pitch so choice II is wrong. III seems
correct but its not. It doesnt matter whether you are speeding up or slowing
down, it only matters who is going faster. For example, suppose truck X was
going 5 mph and speeding up while truck Y was going 50 mph and slowing
down, this is an example of choice III but would not meet the requirement
that X has a higher frequency because only actual speed matters, not what is
happening to that speed.
47.

By inspection.

48.

By inspection, the is 10 cm. f = 1 / T = 5, Then use v = f .

49.

v
Based on

fn

Ft
m
l , the tension changes the speed. Then based on

nv
2 L , this resulting speed change will effect the frequency also. But

since the frequency increases in direct proportion to the speed, and v = f ,

the should remain unchanged.
50.

This is the same as question 26. The length change corresponds to a

increase in length.
L = 0.5 = = 1 then use v = f and solve for f.