Wave Basics

Question paper 3

Level International A Level

Subject Physics
Exam Board CIE
Topic Waves
Sub Topic Wave Basics
Paper Type Theory
Booklet Question paper 3

Time Allowed: 76 minutes

Score: /63

Percentage: /100

A* A B C D E U

>85% 777.5% 70% 62.5% 57.5% 45% <45%

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

 1 Fig. 5.1 shows the variation with time t of the displacements xA and xB at a point P of two
sound waves A and B.

wave A
3
–4
xA / 10 cm
2

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 t / ms
–1

–2

–3

wave B
2
xB / 10 – 4 cm
1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 t / ms
–1

–2

Fig. 5.1

(a) By reference to Fig. 5.1, state one similarity and one difference between these two
waves.

similarity: ..........................................................................................................................

difference: ................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) State, with a reason, whether the two waves are coherent.

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

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

 (c) The intensity of wave A alone at point P is I.

(i) Show that the intensity of wave B alone at point P is 49 I.

[2]

(ii) Calculate the resultant intensity, in terms of I, of the two waves at point P.

resultant intensity = ……………………………… I [2]

(d) Determine the resultant displacement for the two waves at point P

(i) at time t = 3.0 ms,

resultant displacement = ……………………………… cm [1]

(ii) at time t = 4.0 ms.

resultant displacement = ……………………………… cm [2]

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

2 The spectrum of electromagnetic waves is divided into a number of regions such as radio
waves, visible light and gamma radiation.

(a) State three distinct features of waves that are common to all regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum.

1. .....................................................................................................................................

2. .....................................................................................................................................

3. ............................................................................................................................... [3]

(b) A typical wavelength of visible light is 495 nm. Calculate the number of wavelengths of
this light in a wave of length 1.00 m.

number = …………………………. [2]

(c) State a typical wavelength for

(i) X-rays,

wavelength = …………………………. m

(ii) infra-red radiation.

wavelength = …………………………. m
[2]

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

3 Fig. 2.1 shows the variation with distance x along a wave of its displacement d at a particular
time.

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
x/m

Fig. 2.1

The wave is a progressive wave having a speed of 330 m s–1.

(a) (i) Use Fig. 2.1 to determine the wavelength of the wave.

wavelength = ................................... m

(ii) Hence calculate the frequency of the wave.

frequency = .................................... Hz
[3]

(b) A second wave has the same frequency and speed as the wave shown in Fig. 2.1 but
has double the intensity. The phase difference between the two waves is 180°.

On the axes of Fig. 2.1, sketch a graph to show the variation with distance x of the
displacement d of this second wave. [2]

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

4 (a) Fig. 4.1 shows the variation with time t of the displacement x of one point in a
progressive wave.

Fig. 4.1

Fig. 4.2 shows the variation with distance d along the same wave of the displacement x.

Fig. 4.2

(i) Use Figs. 4.1 and 4.2 to determine, for this wave,

1. the amplitude,

amplitude = ………………………….. mm

2. the wavelength,

wavelength = ………………………….…. m

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

 3. the frequency,

frequency = ……………………..…….. Hz

4. the speed.

speed = …………………………….. m s–1

[6]

(ii) On Fig. 4.2, draw a second wave having the same amplitude but half the frequency
as that shown. [1]

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

 (b) Light of wavelength 590 nm is incident at right angles to a diffraction grating having
5.80 × 105 lines per metre, as illustrated in Fig. 4.3.

Fig. 4.3

A screen is placed parallel to and 1.50 m from the grating. Calculate

(i) the spacing, in µm, of the lines of the grating,

spacing = …………………………………. µm

(ii) the angle θ to the original direction of the light at which the first order diffracted
image is seen,

angle = …………………………………….… °

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

 (iii) the minimum length L of the screen so that both first order diffracted images may
be viewed at the same time on the screen.

length = …………………………………….. m
[5]

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

5 The variation with time t of the displacement x of a point in a transverse wave T1 is shown in
Fig. 5.1.

T1

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t/s

-A

Fig. 5.1

(a) By reference to displacement and direction of travel of wave energy, explain what is
meant by a transverse wave.

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

......................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) A second transverse wave T2, of amplitude A has the same waveform as wave T1 but
lags behind T1 by a phase angle of 60°. The two waves T1 and T2 pass through the
same point.

(i) On Fig. 5.1, draw the variation with time t of the displacement x of the point in
wave T2. [2]
(ii) Explain what is meant by the principle of superposition of two waves.

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

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

...............................................................................................................................[2]

(iii) For the time t = 1.0 s, use Fig. 5.1 to determine, in terms of A,

1. the displacement due to wave T1 alone,

displacement = …………………………………….

2. the displacement due to wave T2 alone,

displacement = …………………………………….

3. the resultant displacement due to both waves.

displacement = …………………………………….
Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com
[3]
[email protected]
6 (a) Two overlapping waves of the same type travel in the same direction. The variation with
distance x of the displacement y of each wave is shown in Fig. 6.1.

3.0

y / cm

2.0

1.0

0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
x/m

ï

ï

ï

Fig. 6.1

The speed of the waves is 240 m s–1. The waves are coherent and produce an interference
pattern.

(i) Explain the meaning of coherence and interference.

coherence: .........................................................................................................................

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

interference: .......................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) Use Fig. 6.1 to determine the frequency of the waves.

Dr. Asher Rana frequency =

www.chemistryonlinetuition.com ....................................................
[email protected] Hz [2]
 (iii) State the phase difference between the waves.

phase difference = ........................................................ ° [1]

(iv) Use the principle of superposition to sketch, on Fig. 6.1, the resultant wave. [2]

(b) An interference pattern is produced with the arrangement shown in Fig. 6.2.

B
S1 A
laser 0.13 mm
S2

85 cm screen

Fig. 6.2 (not to scale)

Laser light of wavelength λ of 546 nm is incident on the slits S1 and S2. The slits are a distance
0.13 mm apart. The distance between the slits and the screen is 85 cm.

Two points on the screen are labelled A and B. The path difference between S1A and S2A is
zero. The path difference between S1B and S2B is 2.5 λ. Maxima and minima of intensity of
light are produced on the screen.

(i) Calculate the distance AB.

distance = ...................................................... m [3]

(ii) The laser is replaced by a laser emitting blue light. State and explain the change in the
distance between the maxima observed on the screen.

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

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

Dr. Asher Rana .......................................................................................................................................[1]

www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]
7 (a) The Young modulus of the metal of a wire is 1.8 × 1011 Pa. The wire is extended and the

strain
produced is 8.2 × 10–4.
Calculate the stress in GPa.

stress = ...................................................GPa [2]

(b) An electromagnetic wave has frequency 12 THz.

(i) Calculate the wavelength in μm.

wavelength = .....................................................μm [2]

(ii) State the name of the region of the electromagnetic spectrum for this frequency.

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(c) An object B is on a horizontal surface. Two forces act on B in this horizontal plane. A vector
diagram for these forces is shown to scale in Fig. 1.1.

N
2.5 N

B 30°
W E

7.5 N

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

Fig. 1.1
 A force of 7.5 N towards north and a force of 2.5 N from 30° north of east act on B.
The mass of B is 750 g.

(i) On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow to show the approximate direction of the resultant of these
two forces. [1]

(ii) 1. Show that the magnitude of the resultant force on B is 6.6 N.

[1]

2. Calculate the magnitude of the acceleration of B produced by this resultant force.

magnitude = ................................................ m s–2 [2]

(iii) Determine the angle between the direction of the acceleration and the direction of the
7.5 N force.

angle = ........................................................ ° [1]

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]