Topic 4 - Waves Practice [140

marks]

A beam of microwaves is incident normally on a pair of identical narrow slits S1

and S2.

When a microwave receiver is initially placed at W which is equidistant from the

slits, a maximum in intensity is observed. The receiver is then moved towards Z
along a line parallel to the slits. Intensity maxima are observed at X and Y with
one minimum between them. W, X and Y are consecutive maxima.

1a. Explain why intensity maxima are observed at X and Y. [2 marks]

1b. The distance from S1 to Y is 1.243 m and the distance from S2 to Y is [3 marks]
1.181 m.

Determine the frequency of the microwaves.

1c. Outline one reason why the maxima observed at W, X and Y will have [1 mark]
different intensities from each other.
 The diagram shows the direction of a sound wave travelling in a metal sheet.

2a. Particle P in the metal sheet performs simple harmonic oscillations. [2 marks]
When the displacement of P is 3.2 μm the magnitude of its acceleration is 7.9 m s-
2 . Calculate the magnitude of the acceleration of P when its displacement is 2.3
μm.

2b. The wave is incident at point Q on the metal–air boundary. The wave [2 marks]
makes an angle of 54° with the normal at Q. The speed of sound in the
metal is 6010 m s–1 and the speed of sound in air is 340 m s–1. Calculate the angle
between the normal at Q and the direction of the wave in air.

The frequency of the sound wave in the metal is 250 Hz.

2c. State the frequency of the wave in air. [1 mark]

2d. Determine the wavelength of the wave in air. [1 mark]

2e. The sound wave in air in (c) enters a pipe that is open at both ends. The [1 mark]
diagram shows the displacement, at a particular time T, of the standing
wave that is set up in the pipe.

On the diagram, at time T, label with the letter C a point in the pipe that is at the
centre of a compression.
 A pipe is open at both ends. A first-harmonic standing wave is set up in the pipe.
The diagram shows the variation of displacement of air molecules in the pipe with
distance along the pipe at time t = 0. The frequency of the first harmonic is f.

3a. An air molecule is situated at point X in the pipe at t = 0. Describe the [2 marks]
motion of this air molecule during one complete cycle of the standing
wave beginning from t = 0.
3b. The speed of sound c for longitudinal waves in air is given by [3 marks]

c = √ Kρ
where ρ is the density of the air and K is a constant.
A student measures f to be 120 Hz when the length of the pipe is 1.4 m. The
density of the air in the pipe is 1.3 kg m–3. Determine, in kg m –1 s–2, the value of K
for air.
 A transmitter of electromagnetic waves is next to a long straight vertical wall that
acts as a plane mirror to the waves. An observer on a boat detects the waves both
directly and as an image from the other side of the wall. The diagram shows one
ray from the transmitter reflected at the wall and the position of the image.

3c. Demonstrate, using a second ray, that the image appears to come from [1 mark]
the position indicated.

3d. Outline why the observer detects a series of increases and decreases in [2 marks]
the intensity of the received signal as the boat moves along the line XY.
 A beam of coherent monochromatic light from a distant galaxy is used in an optics
experiment on Earth.

The beam is incident normally on a double slit. The distance between the slits is
0.300 mm. A screen is at a distance D from the slits. The diffraction angle θ is
labelled.

4a. A series of dark and bright fringes appears on the screen. Explain how a [3 marks]
dark fringe is formed.

4b. The wavelength of the beam as observed on Earth is 633.0 nm. The [2 marks]
separation between a dark and a bright fringe on the screen is 4.50 mm.
Calculate D.
 The air between the slits and the screen is replaced with water. The refractive
index of water is 1.33.

4c. Calculate the wavelength of the light in water. [1 mark]

4d. State two ways in which the intensity pattern on the screen changes. [2 marks]

A loudspeaker emits sound towards the open end of a pipe. The other end is
closed. A standing wave is formed in the pipe. The diagram represents the
displacement of molecules of air in the pipe at an instant of time.

5a. Outline how the standing wave is formed. [1 mark]

 X and Y represent the equilibrium positions of two air molecules in the pipe. The
arrow represents the velocity of the molecule at Y.

5b. Draw an arrow on the diagram to represent the direction of motion of [1 mark]
the molecule at X.

5c. Label a position N that is a node of the standing wave. [1 mark]

5d. The speed of sound is 340 m s–1 and the length of the pipe is 0.30 [2 marks]
m. Calculate, in Hz, the frequency of the sound.
 The loudspeaker in (a) now emits sound towards an air–water boundary. A, B and
C are parallel wavefronts emitted by the loudspeaker. The parts of wavefronts A
and B in water are not shown. Wavefront C has not yet entered the water.

5e. The speed of sound in air is 340 m s –1 and in water it is 1500 m s –1. [2 marks]
The wavefronts make an angle θ with the surface of the water. Determine
the maximum angle, θmax, at which the sound can enter water. Give your
answer to the correct number of significant figures.

5f. Draw lines on the diagram to complete wavefronts A and B in water for θ [2 marks]
< θmax.
 A large cube is formed from ice. A light ray is incident from a vacuum at an angle
of 46˚ to the normal on one surface of the cube. The light ray is parallel to the
plane of one of the sides of the cube. The angle of refraction inside the cube is
33˚.

6a. Calculate the speed of light inside the ice cube. [2 marks]

6b. Show that no light emerges from side AB. [3 marks]

6c. Sketch, on the diagram, the subsequent path of the light ray. [2 marks]

Each side of the ice cube is 0.75 m in length. The initial temperature of the ice
cube is –20 °C.

6d. Determine the energy required to melt all of the ice from –20 °C to water[4 marks]
at a temperature of 0 °C.
Specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 330 kJ kg–1
Specific heat capacity of ice = 2.1 kJ kg–1 k–1
Density of ice = 920 kg m–3

6e. Outline the difference between the molecular structure of a solid and a [1 mark]
liquid.
7a. Outline what is meant by the principle of superposition of waves. [2 marks]

7b. Red laser light is incident on a double slit with a slit separation of 0.35 [3 marks]
mm.
A double-slit interference pattern is observed on a screen 2.4 m from the slits.
The distance between successive maxima on the screen is 4.7 mm.

Calculate the wavelength of the light. Give your answer to an appropriate number
of significant figures.
7c. Explain the change to the appearance of the interference pattern when [2 marks]
the red-light laser is replaced by one that emits green light.

7d. One of the slits is now covered. [2 marks]

Describe the appearance of the pattern on the screen.

A student investigates how light can be used to measure the speed of a toy train.

Light from a laser is incident on a double slit. The light from the slits is detected
by a light sensor attached to the train.
 The graph shows the variation with time of the output voltage from the light
sensor as the train moves parallel to the slits. The output voltage is proportional
to the intensity of light incident on the sensor.

8a. Explain, with reference to the light passing through the slits, why a [3 marks]
series of voltage peaks occurs.
8b. The slits are separated by 1.5 mm and the laser light has a wavelength of [1 mark]
6.3 x 10–7 m. The slits are 5.0 m from the train track. Calculate the
separation between two adjacent positions of the train when the output voltage is
at a maximum.

8c. Estimate the speed of the train. [2 marks]

8d. In another experiment the student replaces the light sensor with a sound [2 marks]
sensor. The train travels away from a loudspeaker that is emitting sound
waves of constant amplitude and frequency towards a reflecting barrier.

The sound sensor gives a graph of the variation of output voltage with time along
the track that is similar in shape to the graph shown in the resource. Explain how
this effect arises.
9a. Two microwave transmitters, X and Y, are placed 12 cm apart and are [4 marks]
connected to the same source. A single receiver is placed 54 cm away
and moves along a line AB that is parallel to the line joining X and Y.

Maxima and minima of intensity are detected at several points along AB.
(i) Explain the formation of the intensity minima.
(ii) The distance between the central maximum and the first minimum is 7.2 cm.
Calculate the wavelength of the microwaves.
9b. Radio waves are emitted by a straight conducting rod antenna (aerial). [2 marks]
The plane of polarization of these waves is parallel to the transmitting
antenna.

An identical antenna is used for reception. Suggest why the receiving antenna
needs to be be parallel to the transmitting antenna.
9c. The receiving antenna becomes misaligned by 30° to its original [3 marks]
position.

The power of the received signal in this new position is 12 μW.

(i) Calculate the power that was received in the original position.
(ii) Calculate the minimum time between the wave leaving the transmitting
antenna and its reception.
 A longitudinal wave is travelling in a medium from left to right. The graph shows
the variation with distance x of the displacement y of the particles in the medium.
The solid line and the dotted line show the displacement at t=0 and t=0.882 ms,
respectively.

The period of the wave is greater than 0.882 ms. A displacement to the right of
the equilibrium position is positive.

10a. State what is meant by a longitudinal travelling wave. [1 mark]

10b. Calculate, for this wave, [4 marks]
(i) the speed.
(ii) the frequency.

10c. The equilibrium position of a particle in the medium is at x=0.80 m. For [4 marks]
this particle at t=0, state and explain
(i) the direction of motion.
(ii) whether the particle is at the centre of a compression or a rarefaction.
 This question is about simple harmonic motion (SHM).
The graph shows the variation with time t of the acceleration a of an object X
undergoing simple harmonic motion (SHM).

11a. Define simple harmonic motion (SHM). [2 marks]

11b. X has a mass of 0.28 kg. Calculate the maximum force acting on X. [1 mark]
11c. Determine the maximum displacement of X. Give your answer to an [4 marks]
appropriate number of significant figures.

11d. A second object Y oscillates with the same frequency as X but with a [2 marks]
phase difference of π4 . Sketch, using the graph opposite, how the
acceleration of object Y varies with t.

This question is about the superposition of waves.

12a. State what is meant by the principle of superposition of waves. [1 mark]

12b. The diagram shows two point sources of sound, X and Y. Each source [5 marks]
emits waves of wavelength 1.1 m and amplitude A. Over the distances
shown, any decrease in amplitude can be neglected. The two sources vibrate in
phase.

Points O and P are on a line 4.0 m from the line connecting X and Y. O is opposite
the midpoint of XY and P is 0.75 m from O.

(i) Explain why the intensity of the sound at O is 4A2.

(ii) Deduce that no sound is detected at P.
 This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about simple harmonic motion (SHM) and
waves. Part 2 is about wind power and the greenhouse effect.
Part 1 Simple harmonic motion (SHM) and waves

13a. A gas is contained in a horizontal cylinder by a freely moving piston P. [2 marks]

Initially P is at rest at the equilibrium position E.

The piston P is displaced a small distance A from E and released. As a result, P

executes simple harmonic motion (SHM).
Define simple harmonic motion as applied to P.

13b. The graph shows how the displacement x of the piston P in (a) from [7 marks]
equilibrium varies with time t.
(i) State the value of the displacement A as defined in (a).
(ii) On the graph identify, using the letter M, a point where the magnitude of
the acceleration of P is a maximum.
(iii) Determine, using data from the graph and your answer to (b)(i), the
magnitude of the maximum acceleration of P.
(iv) The mass of P is 0.32 kg. Determine the kinetic energy of P at t=0.052 s.
13c. The oscillations of P initially set up a longitudinal wave in the gas. [4 marks]
(i) Describe, with reference to the transfer of energy, what is meant by a
longitudinal wave.
(ii) The speed of the wave in the gas is 340 m s–1. Calculate the wavelength of
the wave in the gas.

This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about wave motion. Part 2 is about the
melting of the Pobeda ice island.
Part 1 Wave motion

14a. State what is meant by the terms ray and wavefront and state the [3 marks]
relationship between them.
14b. The diagram shows three wavefronts, A, B and C, of a wave at a [4 marks]

particular instant in time incident on a boundary between media X and Y.

Wavefront B is also shown in medium Y.

(i) Draw a line to show wavefront C in medium Y.

(ii) The refractive index of X is nX and the refractive index of Y is nY. By making
n
appropriate measurements, calculate nX .
Y
14c. Describe the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal [2 marks]
waves.
14d. The graph below shows the variation of the velocity v with time t for [3 marks]
one oscillating particle of a medium.

(i) Calculate the frequency of oscillation of the particle.

(ii) Identify on the graph, with the letter M, a time at which the displacement of
the particle is a maximum.
 This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about simple harmonic motion and the
superposition of waves. Part 2 is about gravitational fields.
Part 1 Simple harmonic motion and the superposition of waves
An object of mass m is placed on a frictionless surface and attached to a light
horizontal spring. The other end of the spring is fixed.

The equilibrium position is at B. The direction B to C is taken to be positive. The

object is released from position A and executes simple harmonic motion between
positions A and C.

15a. Define simple harmonic motion. [2 marks]

15b. (i) On the axes below, sketch a graph to show how the acceleration of [3 marks]
the mass varies with displacement from the equilibrium position B.

(ii) On your graph, label the points that correspond to the positions A, B and C.

15c. (i) On the axes below, sketch a graph to show how the velocity of the [3 marks]
mass varies with
time from the moment of release from A until the mass returns to A for the first
time.

(ii) On your graph, label the points that correspond to the positions A, B and C.
 15d. The period of oscillation is 0.20s and the distance from A to B is [3 marks]
0.040m. Determine the maximum speed of the mass.

15e. A long spring is stretched so that it has a length of 10.0 m. Both ends [4 marks]
are made to oscillate with simple harmonic motion so that transverse
waves of equal amplitude but different frequency are generated.
Wave X, travelling from left to right, has wavelength 2.0 m, and wave Y, travelling
from right to left, has wavelength 4.0 m. Both waves move along the spring at
speed 10.0 m s–1.
The diagram below shows the waves at an instant in time.

(i) State the principle of superposition as applied to waves.

(ii) By drawing on the diagram or otherwise, calculate the position at which the
resultant wave will have maximum displacement 0.20 s later.

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2020

International Baccalaureate® - Baccalauréat International® - Bachillerato Internacional®

Printed for St George's International

School