Waves and EM Higher Questions

Q1. A different water wave has a wavelength of 0.25 m and a frequency of 1.5 Hz.
Calculate the wave speed.
(2)

wave speed = ........................................................... m/s

Q2. A radio station transmits on 97.4 MHz.

To receive the waves an aerial needs a length equal to half the wavelength of the
radio waves being transmitted.

Calculate the length of the aerial needed.

The speed of the radio waves is 3.00 × 108 m / s.

(3)

length of aerial = ........................................................... m

Q3. Figure 1 shows part of a wave.

Use data from Figure 1 to calculate the wavelength of the wave.

(2)

wavelength = ........................................................... cm
Q4. Figure 1 shows a ripple tank.
This is used to study the behaviour of water waves.

Figure 1

Water waves are produced in the tank.

The shadow of the waves is projected onto the screen below the tank.

The waves appear to move in the direction of the arrow.

(i) Describe how to determine the frequency of the waves.

(2)
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(ii) The screen is 80 cm long.

What is the approximate wavelength of the waves as seen on the screen?
(1)
A 4 cm
B 8 cm
C 40 cm
D 80 cm

(iii) A student uses the image to estimate the speed of the water wave as 75 cm/s.
Which of these is a reason why the estimate is not correct?
(1)
A the student used a ruler without mm markings
B the light was not bright enough
C the student's measurement was inaccurate
D the wave seen on the screen is magnified
Q5. Sound travels slower in air than it does in water. Figure 6 shows the direction of travel of a sound
wave approaching a boundary between air and water.
The sound wave refracts at the boundary between air and water.

Complete the diagram in Figure 6 to show the direction the sound wave travels in the air. (2)

Q6. There are many different types of waves.

Waves on the surface of water are transverse waves.

Sound waves are longitudinal waves.

Describe the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal waves.

(2)
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Q7. To investigate refraction in a rectangular glass block a student uses the apparatus
shown in Figure 3.

Describe how the student should measure the angle of refraction.

(2)
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Q8. A student is investigating the refraction of light.

Figure 4 shows part of the apparatus and the angles to be measured.

The student measures angle r for several different values of angle i.

Figure 5 shows the student's results.

(i) On the graph in Figure 5, draw the best fit curve.

(1)
(ii) Use the graph in Figure 5 to estimate the value of angle r when angle i is 80°.
(1)
angle r = ........................................................... °

(iii) Describe how angle r changes with angle i for the results shown on the graph in Figure 5.
(2)
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Q9. Explain what can happen to the body if a person has a prolonged exposure to gamma rays.
(2)
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Q10. This question is about waves in the electromagnetic (e.m.) spectrum.

The potential danger associated with the waves of the e.m. spectrum increases as
(1)
A frequency decreases
B frequency increases
C velocity decreases
D velocity increases

Q11. The following descriptions describe waves from different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Complete each description by adding the name of the wave.

Use the name of each wave only once. Each description refers to a different part of the electromagnetic
spectrum.
(4)
Description 1
used in cooking
used in short-range communication
typical wavelength 900 nm
name of wave ...........................................................
Description 2
used in cooking
used in communication
typical wavelength 150 mm
name of wave ...........................................................
Description 3
used in communication
produced by oscillations in electrical circuits
typical wavelength 150 m
name of wave ...........................................................
Description 4
used in medical scanning
is emitted by the nucleus of an atom
typical wavelength 2.0 × 10−3 nm
name of wave ...........................................................

Q12. Microwaves are used to send and receive television signals from high orbit geostationary satellites.
Describe why microwaves rather than radio waves are used.
(2)
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Q13. When white light crosses the boundary between air and glass, it can split up into the colours of the
spectrum.
Explain, in terms of speed, why the light behaves like this.
(3)
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Q14. State three differences between radio waves and sound waves.
(3)
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Q15. (a) A specific electromagnetic wave has a frequency greater than visible light.
The wavelength of this wave is longer than that of X-rays.

Complete the sentence by putting a cross ( ) in the box next to your answer.

This electromagnetic wave is

(1)
 A a gamma wave
B an infrared wave
C a microwave
D an ultraviolet wave
(b) The picture shows a woman checking that a banknote is genuine.
She is using a lamp which emits a radiation which is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Explain how two different electromagnetic radiations enable the woman to check the banknote.
(2)
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Q16. Figure 1 is a diagram of a water wave.

A cork is floating on the water.

(i) Use the scale on the diagram to measure the wavelength of the wave.
(2)
wavelength = ........................................................... cm

(ii) Describe the motion of the cork.

You should include how the cork moves relative to the direction of travel of the wave.
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Q17. Figure 7 shows a tuning fork.

Figure 7

When the prongs of the tuning fork are struck, the prongs vibrate in the directions shown by the arrows on
Figure 7.

Describe how the vibrating tuning fork causes a sound wave to travel through the air.

You may add to the diagram if it helps your answer.

(2)
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Q18. * X-rays and radio waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and have different uses.
These radiations are produced in different ways.

X-rays are emitted when electrons within an atom go through energy changes.

Radiowaves are produced by electrons in circuits.

Compare X-rays with radio waves.

Your answer should refer to

 the uses of both types of radiation

 the different ways that electrons are involved in producing X-rays and radio waves.
(6)
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Mark Scheme
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