Waves (AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy: Life & Environmental Sciences): Exam Questions

The electromagnetic spectrum is grouped into different types of wave.

Draw one line from each type of wave to a use of the wave.

Infrared radiation is emitted by heaters.

A student investigated the absorption of infrared radiation by a black surface and by a white surface.

Figure 2 shows some of the equipment used.

This is the method used.

1. Ensure that the initial temperature shown on the thermometers is the same.

2. Switch on the infrared heater.

3. Record the temperature shown on each thermometer every 30 seconds for 5 minutes.

What equipment should the student have used to measure time?

The distance between the infrared heater and each thermometer was kept the same throughout the investigation.

What type of variable was the distance?

Tick (✓) one box.

What was a risk to the student in the investigation?

Tick (✓) one box.

Figure 3 shows the results.

What was the temperature of the room where the investigation took place?

Use Figure 3.

Temperature =__________°C

What two conclusions can be made from Figure 3?

Tick (✓) two boxes.

Figure 4 shows a thermometer with a grey surface.

The investigation was repeated using this thermometer.

• The distance between the thermometer and the heater was the same as in the first investigation.

• The room temperature was the same as the first investigation.

Draw a line on Figure 3 to predict the results for the thermometer shown in Figure 4.

Waves transfer energy.

Radio waves are transmitted from a radio station and absorbed by a radio receiver.

What is created in the radio receiver when the radio waves are absorbed?

Radio waves may be refracted when they travel from one substance into another substance.

Which diagram shows the refraction of a radio wave?

When the radio receiver is switched on, a sound wave is produced.

Give two differences between radio waves and sound waves.

Table 4 shows the speed of sound in different substances at two different temperatures.

Table 4

Give three conclusions about the effect of temperature and the type of substance on the speed of sound waves.

A teacher used a ripple tank to show how varying the frequency affected the wavelength of water waves.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus.

This is the method used.

1. Turn on the lamp.

2. Adjust the power supply so that the wooden bar vibrates with a frequency of 10 Hz to produce waves on the water.

3. Take a photograph of the image of the waves projected onto the white card.

4. Measure the length of 5 waves from the photograph.

5. Calculate the wavelength of 1 wave.

6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 for different frequencies.

The method used by the teacher is better than measuring the length of only 1 wave directly from the white card.

Explain why.

Ultraviolet waves and visible light waves are types of radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum.

How does the frequency of ultraviolet waves compare with the frequency of visible light waves?

Tick (✓) one box.

An ultraviolet wave has a wavelength of 340 nanometres.

speed of electromagnetic radiation = 3.0 × ${10}^8$ m/s

Calculate the frequency of the ultraviolet wave.

Use the Physics Equations Sheet.

Frequency = Hz

Figure 9 shows the wavefronts of a visible light wave passing from air into a liquid.

Figure 9

Explain why the wave refracts as it passes from the air into the liquid.

A student used a ripple tank to investigate water waves.

What type of wave is a water wave?

Figure 8 shows the ripple tank.

Describe how the water waves are produced in the ripple tank.

The student counted the number of waves reaching the end of the tank.

What other measurement is needed to calculate the frequency of the waves?

Figure 9 shows three different wave patterns produced on the white card.

Which pattern in Figure 9 shows the waves with the greatest frequency?

Give a reason for your answer.

Another student investigated how the depth of water in a tray affected the speed of water waves.

Figure 10 shows the apparatus.

This is the method used.

1. Pour water at room temperature into a tray to a depth of 5 mm.

2. Lift one end of the tray 5 cm and then let it go.

3. Measure the time taken for the water wave to move across the tray.

4. Calculate the speed of the water wave.

5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 with different depths of water.

Give one control variable in the student's investigation.

The student calculated the speed of the waves at each depth.

Figure 11 shows the results.

Draw a line of best fit on Figure 11.

What is the speed of the water wave when the depth of the water is 20 mm?

Use Figure 11.

Some students did an investigation to study the behaviour of waves.

Figure 9 shows a ripple tank that they used to model the behaviour of waves

Complete the wave fronts on Figure 9.

Show how the wave is refracted as it passes from the shallow region into the deep region.

Explain what happens to the waves as they pass into the deep region.

The waves generated on the surface of the water are transverse waves.

Describe the differences between longitudinal waves and transverse waves.

You may include labelled diagrams to help your answer.

Some students investigate the properties of the waves generated in Figure 9.

Student A says 'the waves move water from one end of the tank to the other'.

Student B says 'that's wrong. Only the waves move, not the water'.

Suggest what the students could do to decide which of them is correct.

Another student uses a ripple tank where all the water is the same depth.

She measures the wavelength of each wave as 0.34 m.

The period of each wave is 0.42 s.

Calculate the speed of the wave. Use the correct equation from the Physics Equation Sheet.

Give the unit.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

Speed = ____________________

Unit =______________________

The electromagnetic spectrum is grouped into different types of wave.

Each type of wave has different uses.

Complete the table.

A student investigated the absorption of infrared radiation by a black surface and by a white surface. The student painted the bulb of one thermometer black and the bulb of another thermometer white.

Figure 3 shows some of the equipment used.

Method used:

1. Ensure that the initial temperature shown on the thermometers is the same.

2. Switch on the infrared heater.

3. Record the temperature shown on each thermometer every 30 seconds for 5 minutes.

Explain why the distance between the infrared heater and each thermometer should be the same.

The infrared heater was a hazard in this investigation.

Describe the risk to the student and one precaution that the student should have taken.

Risk: __________________________________________________

Precaution: _____________________________________________

Figure 4 shows the results.

Explain the conclusion that can be made from the results in Figure 4.

The paint used for the thermometer bulb painted white was a matt white paint.

The investigation was repeated using a thermometer bulb painted with shiny silver paint.

• The distance between the thermometer and the heater was the same as in the first investigation.

• The room temperature was the same as in the first investigation.

Draw a line on Figure 4 to predict the results for a thermometer painted with shiny silver paint.

Figure 13 shows a ripple tank used to investigate the behaviour of water waves.

Water waves are transverse waves.

Complete the sentence.

Choose the answer from the box.

parallel     perpendicular     the same

In transverse waves, the direction of oscillation and the direction of energy transfer are ...............................

Describe a method a student could use to determine the frequency of the water waves.

Use the Physics Equations Sheet to answer part c and d.

Which equation links frequency ($f$), wavelength ( $\lambda$) and wave speed ($v$)?

Figure 14 shows the water waves in the ripple tank when viewed from above.

Figure 14 has been drawn to actual size.

The water waves have a frequency of 2.5 Hz.

Calculate the wave speed of the waves in Figure 14.

You should take measurements from Figure 14.

Wave speed = ________m/s

Figure 1 shows a cell viewed through a light microscope.

The size of the real cell is 0.03 mm.

Calculate the magnification of the microscope.

Use Figure 1 to help you answer.

Magnification = _______________

A light microscope uses light waves to observe objects.

Light waves can be modelled using water waves.

Figure 2 shows a water wave .

Give one similarity between a light wave and a water wave.

Write down the equation that links frequency, wave speed and wavelength.

The wave in Figure 2 has a wavelength of 75 cm.

The wave moves at a speed of 1.6 m/s.

Calculate the frequency of the wave.

Frequency =_____________ Hz