Cambridge International AS and A level Physics

waves is reduced and – since the speed of the sound is the Chapter 14:
same – more complete wavelengths arrive at the observer
per second. Superposition of waves
2 a 453 Hz
Exercise 14.1 Superposition and interference
b 358 Hz
1 a–c
b
3 2740 Hz
a
4 319 Hz and 283 Hz original
d
5 a 57 m s −1 c
b 214 Hz

6 4.35 × 106 m s −1 d The resultant will be a straight line along the horizontal axis.

2 a the waves arrive with no path difference and are thus in phase
7 2.25 × 108 m s −1
b The waves arrive with an extra half a wavelength in the path
taken by one wave. The waves are out of phase and thus
cancel, because the displacement caused by one wave
Exam-style questions is always the same size but opposite to the displacement
1 a 8.0 cm caused by the other wave.
b 20 cm s −1, assuming that each crest in the top diagram moves c
Point Distance Distance Path Interference
to the next crest in the bottom diagram in 0.10 s X from X from X difference at the point
c 2.5 Hz to P to Q
d same amplitude or very small difference A 3λ 3λ 0 constructive
e 270º 2 B 3½ λ 3λ ½λ destructive
⎛ 6⎞
20
f ratio = ⎜⎝ 4 ⎟⎠ = 2.25 C 4λ 4λ 0λ constructive
D 5λ 3λ 2λ constructive
2 a i Both involve the transfer of energy without the medium
as a whole moving and are associated with an oscillation. E 5λ 3½ λ 1½ λ destructive
However, the oscillation is parallel to the direction F 4λ 3½ λ ½λ destructive
of travel of the energy in a longitudinal wave, but is
G 4½ λ 3λ ½λ destructive
perpendicular to the direction of travel of the energy in a
transverse wave.
d Missing words:
ii longitudinal: sound or some seismic waves or a spring
i 0 (or 2 λ)
wave
ii in; constructively
transverse: any e.m. wave or rope or water waves
iii ½ λ (or 1½ λ)
b i The number of complete wavelengths passing a point
per unit time. iv out of; destructively
ii AD e, f f
iii v = f λ = 3 × 28 = 84 cm s −1
iv 180º

c i radio wave region

ii The frequency received is lower because the source of
the radiation is moving away from Earth. The Doppler
effect causes an increase in wavelength and decrease in
frequency in this case. This is because the same number
of wavelengths are emitted per second but, because the
source is moving away from Earth, these wavelengths
are in a larger distance. This increases the wavelength
received on Earth.
iii 1.9 × 106 m s −1
For part f, only one of the curves marked ‘f’ in the diagram is
required.
 Answers

Exercise 14.2 Two-source interference 2 a A series of equally spaced lines of light and dark areas.
experiments b 3.32 mm
c 1.66 mm
1 a a: separation of each slit
x: distance between fringes 3 a 1.40 mm
D: the distance between the slits and the screen.
b 7.0 × 10 −7 m
b a: travelling or measuring microscope c
x: ruler (using lens to magnify if dim)
D: metre rule
Precaution: Measure separation of slits at a number of
different places along the slits and average; measure fringe
separation by measuring the separation of all four dots (as 1 mm
many as possible) and dividing by three. d White central fringe. A few fringes with coloured edges and
ax then no discernible fringe pattern – grey.
c Any sensible use of λ = (for example, if slits are 0.5 mm
D
apart and screen is 5.0 m from slits, x will be 7 mm). 4 3.3 mm
d Have the screen further from the slits or make the slits closer 5 a x = 3.33 mm
together. b a = 2.88 × 10 −4 m
e laser is brighter (so screen can be further away); white
light gives a spectrum, with a white central fringe and a few 6 a 9.0 cm or 3λ
fringes with coloured edges but then the different colours b no phase difference or phase difference of 6π radians (1080°)
overlap and merge; laser produces coherent light across the c constructive
double slit and so the fringes have distinct black and white
d large amplitude or intensity at O, decreasing to zero then
regions.
increasing with P being the third peak. Each peak is slightly
smaller in height then the preceding one (because diffraction
2 a Diagram should show source of plane water waves, such
is not uniform and the further from the centre of the pattern
as a vibrating bar, and an object in the water with two
the greater the distance the light has to travel)
small gaps. 21
b Diagram should show microwave source, detector and metal
double slit. Exercise 14.4 Diffraction and the diffraction grating
c Wavelength of microwaves 3 cm much larger than that of light 1 Diffraction causes waves to spread out as they pass through
(about 105 times larger). This means that the separation of the narrow gaps.
slits can be much larger and the value of x will be larger. The
Interference causes a pattern due to cancellation and
value of D is likely to be similar.
reinforcement of the wave.
Coherence needs a constant phase difference between two waves.
Exercise 14.3 Calculations and descriptions Superposition occurs when waves meet and the resultant
with the double-slit experiment displacement is the sum of the displacements of each wave.
1 a 3.8 × 10 −3 m 2 a The waves on the right should be one wavelength apart (the
b waves shown have a variable wavelength). The waves have
Intensity curved edges with centres at the ends of the gap. They are
only straight in the region opposite the gap.
b A series of circles centred on the centre of the slit.

3 a 0.16 m.
b The diagram should show a loudspeaker connected to a
signal generator, a gap in a solid metal or wooden sheet and a
microphone connected to an oscilloscope. Gap about 0.16 m
or less.

c The fringes move further apart on the screen. 4 a 2.0 × 10 −6 m

d The fringes move further apart on the screen. b 7.5 × 10 −7 m
e The pattern is dimmer but in the same place. c 48.6°
f Dark fringes no longer completely dark so pattern has less d sine of the angle becomes larger than one and so the third
contrast. order is not possible
g The pattern is lost and no fringes are seen on the screen. e five (two on either side of the zero order and the zero order itself)
 Cambridge International AS and A level Physics

5 a 3.0 ×10 −3 mm Chapter 15:

b 11.3°; 23.2°; 36.2°; 51.9; 79.5°
Stationary waves
6 a 1.66 × 10 m and 604 lines per millimetre
−6

b 14° Exercise 15.1 How superposition leads to

c 11° stationary waves
1 a, b b
7 a 14.9°
b 2.33 × 10 −6 m B C
a
c 90.2 cm

A D
Exam-style questions
1 a At some positions on the screen light from the two sources
has a path difference of 0, λ, 2λ, 3λ or nλ where n is an integer.
The light arrives in phase and the two waves add together c 1.0 m
constructively to form a bright dot. At places nearby, the wave d B up, C up, D down
from one slit has further to travel than from the other slit; the
path difference is ½λ, 1½λ, 2½λ or (n + ½)λ where n is an 2 a−e P
integer. The two waves arrive out of phase and destructively
interfere, cancelling each other out and forming a dark spot
resultant
between each bright red spot.
b The further from the centre of the pattern the greater is the Q
angle that light has to be diffracted as it leaves each slit.
Diffraction is not uniform at different angles unless each
resultant
slit is very narrow compared to the wavelength. Therefore,
22 less light is diffracted at a higher angle, and when the waves P and Q
constructively interfere the resultant maximum is less than
when they combine at the centre of the pattern.

2 a Pass light from the laser through the grating and onto a
screen (this may be shown on a diagram). Both the distance x
between the central and the adjacent spot on the screen P
and the distance D from the grating to the screen are
measured; a ruler or metre rule may be used. This allows
resultant
the angle θ of the first-order maximum to be calculated as
tan θ = x/D. The spacing d of the grating is measured using a Q
travelling or measuring microscope and then the wavelength
λ = d sin θ.
b The diffraction grating is better because the spots are further
apart (allowing more accurate measurement) and also
because the pattern is brighter and sharper, being more easily
visible in the laboratory. P and Q
resultant
3 a x = 0.05 cm N A N A N A N A N A N
b 7.0 × 10 −4 m
3 a
c 0.057° Distance Displacement Displacement Displacement
d any two differences from: diffraction pattern is sharper; along of stationary of progressive of other
brighter; more spots are seen x-axis / cm wave / cm wave shown progressive
e The angles of the first and other order maxima are too close / cm wave / cm
together to measure accurately, being separated by less 0 +2.0 +1.0 +1.0
than a degree. 0.50 0 +1.0 −1.0
1.00 −2.0 −1.0 −1.0
1.50 0 −1.0 +1.0
2.00 +2.0 +1.0 +1.0