Waves Multiple choice
IGCSE Physics 0625 (2023 - 2025)
Section 1 (Multiple Choice)
REF: 0625/11/O/N/21/21
1) The diagram shows a ray of light in glass incident on the surface between the [1]
glass and air.
What happens if the angle of incidence is made larger than the critical angle
for the glass?
A The angle of refraction becomes equal to 90
.
B There is a refracted ray and a ray re ected inside the glass.
C There is a refracted ray only.
D There is only a ray re ected inside the glass.
REF: 0625/11/O/N/16/23
2) When white light passes through a glass prism, it disperses as shown in the [1]
diagram.
REF: 0625/11/O/N/14/25
3) In an experiment to measure the speed of sound, a student uses a stopwatch [1]
to nd the time
taken for a sound wave to travel from X to Y. She does this six times.
The table shows her results.
Which value for the time should be used to calculate the speed of sound?
A 0.4s
B 0.5s
C 0.6s
D 0.9s
REF: 0625/12/O/N/17/23
4) The diagram shows an object O in front of a thin converging lens of focal [1]
length f.
At which point will the lens form a sharp image of the object?
REF: 0625/12/O/N/16/21
5) Which wave has an amplitude equal to half its wavelength? [1]
REF: 0625/12/M/J/16/24
6) Visible light has a frequency of approximately [1]
M and N are two other types of electromagnetic radiation.
The frequency of M is
The frequency of N is
.
Which types of radiation are M and N?
REF: 0625/13/O/N/17/22
7) Light enters a transparent block. [1]
The light is refracted into the block and then strikes the top edge of the block
at the critical angle.
Which diagram correctly shows the angle of refraction r and the critical angle
c?
REF: 0625/23/O/N/17/23
8) A sound wave travels from a medium in one state into the same medium but in [1]
another state.
This causes the speed of the wave to change from approximately 300 m / s to
approximately 3000 m / s.
Between which two states is the sound wave travelling?
A gas to solid
B liquid to gas
C liquid to solid
D solid to liquid
REF: 0625/13/M/J/19/21
9) A student draws a diagram to show two di erent properties of a water wave. [1]
The arrows show
the wave directions.
Which two wave properties does the diagram show?
A refraction and di raction
B re ection and dispersion
C re ection and di raction
D re ection and refraction
REF: 0625/12/O/N/16/20
10) The box contains a list of four types of wave. [1]
How many waves in the list are transverse waves?
A1
B2
C3
D4
REF: 0625/21/O/N/21/17
11) The diagram shows waves in a ripple tank containing water. [1]
The waves approach a barrier and pass through the gap in the barrier.
The size of the gap is about the same size as the wavelength of the ripples.
The gap size is increased.
What happens to the ripple pattern to the right of the barrier?
A The ripples are closer together.
B The ripples are further apart.
C The ripples are more curved.
D The ripples are less curved.
REF: 0625/12/M/J/13/19
12) The diagram shows the surface of water in a ripple tank. A wave is travelling in [1]
the direction of the arrow towards a gap in a barrier.
What happens to the wave as it passes through the gap, and what happens to
the shape of the wavefronts after passing through the gap?
REF: 0625/11/O/N/17/26
13) A student stands 180 m in front of a vertical, at cli and bangs together two [1]
pieces of wood to make a short, loud sound.
A timer records the echo of the sound 1.5 seconds after the pieces of wood
are banged together.
Based on this result, what is the speed of sound?
A 120 m / s
B 240 m / s
C 270 m / s
D 540 m / s
REF: 0625/13/O/N/15/23
14) A pulse of sound is produced at the bottom of a boat. The sound travels [1]
through the water and is re ected from the sea bed. The sound reaches the
boat again after 1.2 s. The speed of sound in the water is 1500 m/s.
How far below the bottom of the boat is the sea bed?
A 450 m
B 900 m
C 1800 m
D 3600 m
REF: 0625/13/O/N/17/25
15) The speed of sound in air is 330 m / s. [1]
The speed of ultraviolet waves in air is 300 000000 m / s.
Which row gives a possible frequency and speed of an ultrasound wave in air?
REF: 0625/11/O/N/18/23
16) The diagram shows a parallel, cylindrical light beam of diameter d incident on [1]
a thin converging
lens. A screen is placed a distance equal to two focal lengths 2f from the lens.
Which diagram shows the size of the spot of light seen on the screen?
REF: 0625/12/O/N/18/22
17) The diagram shows two plane mirrors at 90° to each other. A ray of light is [1]
incident on one of the
mirrors. The ray re ects o both mirrors before reaching a screen.
At which labelled point does the ray reach the screen?
REF: 0625/21/O/N/19/23
18) A converging lens produces an image of an object O. The focal length of the [1]
lens is f.
Which position of the object produces a virtual image?
REF: 0625/22/O/N/20/23
19) An optical lever is a very sensitive device for detecting small rotations. A lamp [1]
sends a narrow beam of light on to a small plane mirror attached to a shaft
whose rotation is to be measured. The operation of the device is shown in plan
view.
The beam from the lamp re ects from the mirror to give a small spot of light
on a scale placed just above the lamp. The shaft and mirror rotate through 1°.
The spot of light moves along the scale.
The table shows the angle through which the re ected beam rotates and the
conditions required for high sensitivity.
Which row is correct?
REF: 0625/11/O/N/19/26
20) A man hears a starting pistol re 1.5 seconds after he sees a pu of smoke [1]
from the pistol. The sound and the smoke are made at the same time. The
starting pistol is 450 metres away from the man. What is the speed of sound
calculated from this observation?
A 150 m / s
B 300 m / s
C 330 m / s
D 625 m / s
Section 2 (Multiple Choice)
REF: 0625/21/O/N/20/24
1) The diagram shows white light passing through a prism. [1]
Which description of what happens as the light passes into the prism is
correct?
A The speed of the red light is less than the speed of the violet light and the
red light is the least refracted.
B The speed of the red light is greater than the speed of the violet light and the
red light is the least refracted.
C The speed of the violet light is less than the speed of the red light and the
violet light is the least refracted.
D The speed of the violet light is greater than the speed of the red light and
the violet light is the least refracted.
REF: 0625/11/O/N/11/23
2) A student wishes to measure the speed of sound in air. She plans to measure [1]
the time between
making a sound and hearing the echo from a cli .
She will use the equation: speed = time
distance .
Which type of sound should she make and which distance should she use in
her calculation?
REF: 0625/12/M/J/12/24
3) A converging lens in a projector is used to make an enlarged image of a small [1]
piece of lm on a screen.
At which labelled point could the piece of lm be placed so that the lens
produces this image?
REF: 0625/12/O/N/16/23
4) A student draws four diagrams to represent light passing from air through a [1]
glass block and then
back into the air.
The critical angle for the glass is 42°.
In which diagram is the path of the light through the glass block not correct?
REF: 0625/23/O/N/21/17
5) In the diagram, the mountaineer can hear the stream although he cannot see [1]
it. When he is
closer to the gully, he can both hear and see the stream. When he is further
from the gully, he
can neither hear nor see the stream.
Which statement is not correct?
A As he approaches the gully edge, he hears rst the short wavelength, higher
frequencies and
then the long wavelength, lower frequencies.
B As he approaches the gully edge, the sound becomes louder.
C He hears the stream because some of the sound is di racted.
D He hears the stream because some of the sound is re ected from the
opposite wall of the
gully.
REF: 0625/22/O/N/20/23
6) An optical lever is a very sensitive device for detecting small rotations. A lamp [1]
sends a narrow beam of light on to a small plane mirror attached to a shaft
whose rotation is to be measured. The operation of the device is shown in plan
view.
The beam from the lamp re ects from the mirror to give a small spot of light
on a scale placed just above the lamp. The shaft and mirror rotate through 1°.
The spot of light moves along the scale.
The table shows the angle through which the re ected beam rotates and the
conditions required for high sensitivity.
Which row is correct?
REF: 0625/12/O/N/17/23
7) The diagram shows an object O in front of a thin converging lens of focal [1]
length f.
At which point will the lens form a sharp image of the object?
REF: 0625/12/O/N/19/24
8) The diagram shows the path of a ray of green light through a glass prism. [1]
The angle of deviation is the angle between the incident ray and the ray leaving
the prism.
When a ray of white light is incident on the prism, it separates into the colours
of the visible spectrum.
What is the name of this e ect and which colour of light has the smallest angle
of deviation?
REF: 0625/13/O/N/16/20
9) A small plastic ball oats on the surface of deep water. A stone is dropped into [1]
the water at point X.
A wave spreads out across the water surface, causing the ball to move.
Which type of wave is produced by the stone, and in which direction does the
ball move?
REF: 0625/13/O/N/18/23
10) An object is placed 20 cm in front of a thin converging lens. The scale drawing [1]
shows how the
lens forms a real, inverted image.
Which row gives the focal length of the lens and the distance of the image
from the lens?
REF: 0625/11/O/N/14/24
11) A re alarm is not loud enough and the pitch is too low. An engineer adjusts [1]
the alarm so that it
produces a louder note of a higher pitch.
What e ect does this have on the amplitude and on the frequency of the
sound waves that the
alarm produces?
REF: 0625/11/M/J/10/25
12) A police car siren emits two di erent sounds P and Q. These are produced [1]
alternately. The diagram represents the sounds emitted.
Which sound is the louder and which has the lower pitch?
REF: 0625/21/O/N/19/23
13) A converging lens produces an image of an object O. The focal length of the [1]
lens is f.
Which position of the object produces a virtual image?
REF: 0625/21/O/N/20/25
14) Which row gives possible values for the speed of sound? [1]
REF: 0625/11/O/N/19/26
15) A man hears a starting pistol re 1.5 seconds after he sees a pu of smoke [1]
from the pistol. The sound and the smoke are made at the same time. The
starting pistol is 450 metres away from the man. What is the speed of sound
calculated from this observation?
A 150 m / s
B 300 m / s
C 330 m / s
D 625 m / s
REF: 0625/14/M/J/15/3
16) A tennis player hits a ball hard and 0.40 s later hears the echo from a wall. [1]
The speed of sound in air is 330 m / s.
How far away is the player from the wall?
A 66 m
B 132 m
C 264 m
D 825 m
REF: 0625/12/O/N/16/20
17) The box contains a list of four types of wave. [1]
How many waves in the list are transverse waves?
A1
B2
C3
D4
REF: 0625/11/O/N/14/23
18) An object is placed in front of a converging lens. The lens has a focal length f. [1]
The lens produces a real, enlarged image of the object.
In which labelled position is the object placed?
REF: 0625/11/M/J/19/26
19) A pulse of sound is produced at the bottom of a boat. The sound travels [1]
through the water and is
re ected from a shoal of sh. The sound reaches the boat again after 1.2 s.
The speed of sound
in the water is
.
How far below the bottom of the boat is the shoal of sh?
A 450 m
B 900 m
C 1800 m
D 3600 m
REF: 0625/21/M/J/16/23
20) The diagram shows a converging lens forming an image of an object. [1]
Which statement about the image is correct?
A It is real and can be seen by an eye at X.
B It is real and can be seen by an eye at Y.
C It is virtual and can be seen by an eye at X.
D It is virtual and can be seen by an eye at Y.
Section 3 (Multiple Choice)
REF: 0625/11/O/N/14/24
1) A re alarm is not loud enough and the pitch is too low. An engineer adjusts [1]
the alarm so that it
produces a louder note of a higher pitch.
What e ect does this have on the amplitude and on the frequency of the
sound waves that the
alarm produces?
REF: 0625/23/O/N/17/22
2) Light travelling in air enters a plastic block at an angle of incidence of 62°. [1]
The plastic has a refractive index of 1.48.
What is the angle of refraction?
A 18°
B 28°
C 37°
D 42°
REF: 0625/13/O/N/16/26
3) A man stands 110 m from a high wall. He makes a short, sharp sound and then [1]
hears an echo from the wall.
The speed of sound in air is 330 m / s.
How long after making the sound does the man hear the echo?
A 0.33 s
B 0.67 s
C 1.5 s
D 3.0 s
REF: 0625/11/O/N/16/22
4) A child wears a T-shirt with the letter ‘F’ written on it. [1]
The child stands in front of a vertical plane mirror.
What does the child see?
REF: 0625/12/O/N/18/22
5) The diagram shows two plane mirrors at 90° to each other. A ray of light is [1]
incident on one of the
mirrors. The ray re ects o both mirrors before reaching a screen.
At which labelled point does the ray reach the screen?
REF: 0625/11/O/N/11/23
6) A student wishes to measure the speed of sound in air. She plans to measure [1]
the time between
making a sound and hearing the echo from a cli .
She will use the equation: speed = time
distance .
Which type of sound should she make and which distance should she use in
her calculation?
REF: 0625/13/M/J/16/24
7) White light enters a glass prism. The light leaving the other side of the prism is [1]
separated into colours.
Which row correctly describes what happens?
REF: 0625/12/O/N/17/23
8) The diagram shows an object O in front of a thin converging lens of focal [1]
length f.
At which point will the lens form a sharp image of the object?
REF: 0625/21/O/N/21/17
9) The diagram shows waves in a ripple tank containing water. [1]
The waves approach a barrier and pass through the gap in the barrier.
The size of the gap is about the same size as the wavelength of the ripples.
The gap size is increased.
What happens to the ripple pattern to the right of the barrier?
A The ripples are closer together.
B The ripples are further apart.
C The ripples are more curved.
D The ripples are less curved.
REF: 0625/11/O/N/11/20
10) Radio waves are received at a house at the bottom of a hill. [1]
The waves reach the house because the hill has caused them to be
A di racted.
B radiated.
C re ected.
D refracted.
REF: 0625/11/M/J/14/24
11) A lighted candle is placed in front of a loudspeaker that is making a loud, [1]
steady note. The candle
ame vibrates because of the sound wave.
Which type of waves are sound waves and in which direction does the ame
vibrate?
REF: 0625/22/O/N/21/19
12) The diagram shows how a ray of light refracts when going from air to Perspex. [1]
The critical angle of Perspex is c.
Which expression is correct?
A
REF: 0625/11/O/N/18/23
13) The diagram shows a parallel, cylindrical light beam of diameter d incident on [1]
a thin converging
lens. A screen is placed a distance equal to two focal lengths 2f from the lens.
Which diagram shows the size of the spot of light seen on the screen?
REF: 0625/21/M/J/19/23
14) An eclipse of the Sun happens when the Moon comes between the Earth and [1]
the Sun.
Which statement is correct?
A Infra-red radiation from the Sun disappears before visible light and ultra-
violet radiation.
B Ultra-violet radiation from the Sun disappears before visible light and infra-
red radiation.
C Visible light from the Sun disappears before ultra-violet radiation and infra-
red radiation.
D Infra-red radiation, ultra-violet radiation and visible light from the Sun all
disappear at the
same moment.
REF: 0625/12/O/N/16/23
15) A student draws four diagrams to represent light passing from air through a [1]
glass block and then
back into the air.
The critical angle for the glass is 42°.
In which diagram is the path of the light through the glass block not correct?
REF: 0625/23/O/N/17/23
16) A sound wave travels from a medium in one state into the same medium but in [1]
another state.
This causes the speed of the wave to change from approximately 300 m / s to
approximately 3000 m / s.
Between which two states is the sound wave travelling?
A gas to solid
B liquid to gas
C liquid to solid
D solid to liquid
REF: 0625/12/M/J/12/24
17) A converging lens in a projector is used to make an enlarged image of a small [1]
piece of lm on a screen.
At which labelled point could the piece of lm be placed so that the lens
produces this image?
REF: 0625/12/O/N/19/24
18) The diagram shows the path of a ray of green light through a glass prism. [1]
The angle of deviation is the angle between the incident ray and the ray leaving
the prism.
When a ray of white light is incident on the prism, it separates into the colours
of the visible spectrum.
What is the name of this e ect and which colour of light has the smallest angle
of deviation?
REF: 0625/22/O/N/18/23
19) A transmitter produces radio waves of wavelength 1500 m. It takes the waves [1]
0.025 s to travel
from the transmitter to a radio receiver.
What is the distance between the radio transmitter and the receiver?
A
REF: 0625/12/M/J/19/24
20) Which diagram shows the dispersion of white light by a glass prism? [1]
