General Properties of Waves (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Physics): Exam Questions

Exam code: 0625 & 0972

2 hours42 questions
11 mark

The following table shows some examples of waves

Which row correctly lists the nature of each of the wave types?

 

Sound waves

Infrared waves

Red light waves

A

transverse

longitudinal

transverse

B

longitudinal

transverse

transverse

C

longitudinal

longitudinal

transverse

D

transverse

transverse

longitudinal

    21 mark

    What is the definition of the word amplitude?

    • The number of complete waves that pass a point per second.

    • The distance from the peak of one wave to the peak of an adjacent wave.

    • The distance from the equilibrium position of a peak plus the same distance from a trough.

    • The maximum distance from the equilibrium position of any point on a wave.

    31 mark

    What is the name given to the effect that allows the wavefronts to reach point X, shown on the diagram?

    q3-easy-mcq-3-1-general-properties-of-wave-cie-igcse-physics
    • Reflection

    • Refraction

    • Diffraction

    • Dispersion

    41 mark

    Which two points on the wave are exactly one wavelength apart?

    q4-easy-mcq-3-1-general-properties-of-wave-cie-igcse-physics
    • P and S

    • Q and R

    • Q and S

    • P and R

    51 mark

    What is the unit of wave speed?

    • Hertz

    • Metre

    • Second

    • Metres per second

    61 mark

    Which arrow on the graph shows the amplitude of the wave?

    Graph of a sine wave showing displacement versus distance, with amplitude A, peak B, wavelength C, and one complete wave cycle labelled D.
      71 mark

      In a shallow tank, a water wave moves through a barrier with a narrow gap. The diagram shows the waves on the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the barrier.

      Diagram showing water waves approaching a barrier with a gap, demonstrating wave diffraction as curved lines emerging beyond the barrier.

      Which term describes the effect shown?

      •  reflection

      • dispersion

      • refraction

      • diffraction

      81 mark

      The diagram shows a wave.

      Graph showing a sine wave with displacement in centimetres on the y-axis and distance in centimetres on the x-axis, ranging from 0 to 28 cm.

      Which row is correct? 

       

      amplitude of the wave / cm

      wavelength of the wave / cm

      A

      1.0

      4.0

      B

      1.0

      8.0

      C

      2.0

      4.0

      D

      2.0

      8.0

        91 mark

        A girl is sitting on a rock in the sea looking at passing waves. She notices that five complete wavelengths pass her in 20 s. 

        What is the frequency of this wave?

        • 0.25 Hz

        • 4.0 Hz

        • 15 Hz

        • 100 Hz

        11 mark

        Water waves travel from deeper water to more shallow water. This causes them to refract.

        Which wave property always remains the same when refraction occurs?

        • Wavelength

        • Frequency

        • Amplitude

        • Speed

        21 mark

        Which of the following waves are longitudinal?

        • Radio waves from a radio broadcaster.

        • Infrared waves from an oven.

        • Sound waves from a guitar.

        • Water waves on a lake.

        31 mark

        Which of the following statements about sound waves is incorrect?

        • Sound waves are longitudinal.

        • Sound waves transfer energy away from the source.

        • Sound waves push air away from the source.

        • Sound waves cause objects to vibrate.

        41 mark

        The speed of a wave is doubled. The frequency remains the same.

        What happens to the wavelength of the wave?

        • It doubles

        • It halves

        • It remains the same

        • It becomes four times as large

        51 mark

        When water waves travel from deeper water into more shallow water they are refracted.

        iQX-h9zG_q5-medium-mcq-3-1-general-properties-of-wave-cie-igcse-physics

        Why does the wave change direction in the manner shown?

        • The wave speed increases.

        • The wave speed decreases.

        • The frequency increases.

        • The frequency decreases.

        61 mark

        Light travels at a speed of 2.0 108 m/s in a glass block.

        In the glass, the wavelength of the light is 4.0 10–7 m. 

        What is the frequency of the light?

        • 2.0cross times10–15 Hz

        • 1.3cross times10–2 Hz

        • 80 Hz

        • 5.0cross times1014 Hz

        71 mark

        In a shallow tank, a water wave moves through a barrier with a narrow gap. The diagram shows the waves on the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the barrier.

        Diagram showing water waves approaching a barrier with a narrow gap, illustrating wave diffraction as the waves spread out after passing through the gap.

         Which term describes the effect shown?

        •   reflection

        • dispersion

        • refraction

        • diffraction

        81 mark

        A sound wave is created by a loudspeaker that vibrates backwards and forwards   96 000 times per minute. 

        The speed of sound is 320 m/s. 

        What is the wavelength of the sound wave?

        • 0.20 m

        • 5.0 m

        • 300 m

        • 18 000 m

        91 mark

        The diagrams show graphs of displacement against time for four waves. All the graphs are drawn to the same scale.

         Which wave has the largest amplitude and the highest frequency?

        image
          11 mark

          Sound waves travel at a speed of 1500 m/s through a substance. Their wavelength is 5.00 cm.

          What is their frequency?

          • 30  kHz

          • 75 Hz

          • 7.5 kHz

          • 300 Hz

          21 mark

          The diagrams below show the wavefront diagrams of light as it passes from glass into air. They are magnified many times.

          Which diagram correctly shows what happens to the wavefronts as they pass the glass-air boundary?

          q2-hard-mcq-3-1-general-properties-of-wave-cie-igcse-physics
            31 mark

            The diagram shows a plane water wave approaching a gap as viewed from above.

            q3-hard-mcq-3-1-general-properties-of-wave-cie-igcse-physics

            How could the situation be changed so that the waves on the far side of the gap do not spread out as far?

            • Decrease the speed of the waves (but keep their wavelength the same).

            • Increase the speed of the waves (but keep their wavelength the same).

            • Make the gap a little smaller.

            • Make the gap a little bigger.

            41 mark

            A small child throws a stone into a very still pond.

            Where the stone hits the water, waves travel outwards in a circular pattern until they reach the side of the pond.

            Six waves arrive in a time of 3.20 s.

            To 3 significant figures, what is the frequency of the waves?

            • 1.50 Hz

            • 19.2 Hz

            • 0.533 Hz

            • 1.88 Hz

            51 mark

            With skillful use of particular laboratory equipment, water can be used to demonstrate reflection, refraction and diffraction.

            For each of these, which row shows whether or not the wavelength of the water waves changes?

             

            Reflection

            Refraction

            Diffraction

            A

            yes

            yes

            yes

            B

            no

            no

            no

            C

            yes

            yes

            no

            D

            no

            yes

            no