IGCSE/GCSE GENERAL WAVE PROPERTIES - TRANSVERSIVE WAVE

What is the frequency of a wave?

• The number of waves passing a fixed point per second.

• The number of peaks added to the number of troughs passing a fixed point per second.

• The time taken for one wave to pass a fixed point.

• The time taken for the displacement to change from maximum to minimum.

What is meant by the term wave front?

• the distance between successive peaks of a wave

• the distance between the trough and the peak of a wave

• a line joining points along the peak of a wave

• a line joining the trough and the peak of a wave

A ripple tank is used to demonstrate refraction of plane water waves.

Waves in deep water have a wavelength of 1.2 cm and a speed of 9.6 cm / s.

The wavelength of the waves in shallow water is 0.8 cm.

What is the speed of the waves in the shallow water?

• 6.4 cm / s

• 8.0 cm / s

• 9.6 cm / s

• 14.4 cm / s

The diagram shows waves travelling on the sea.

Which points are one wavelength apart?

• P and R

• Q and S

• Q and T

• S and T

The diagram shows the variation of the displacement of a wave with distance from the source.

 What is the amplitude of the wave?

• 2.0 cm

• 4.0 cm

• 20 cm

• 40cm

The diagram shows a wave moving into shallower water.

The wavelength of the waves is reduced because 

• both the frequency and the speed decrease.

• both the frequency and the speed increase.

• only the frequency increases.

• only the speed decreases.

The diagram shows a water wave in a ripple tank.

The wave has a speed of 12 cm / s at R.

The wave crosses a boundary PQ where the distance between crests changes from 3.0 cm to 1.5 cm.

What is the speed of the wave at S?

• 3.0 cm / s

• 6.0 cm / s

• 12 cm / s

• 24 cm / s

Which diagram correctly represents water waves travelling from deep water to shallow water?

• A

• B

• C

• D

The diagram shows part of a spring that is shaken from side to side to produce a wave.

The distance between successive peaks is 0.60 m and the frequency is 2.5 Hz.

How long does it take for a wave to travel 3.0 m along the spring? 

• 0.20 s

• 0.50 s

• 2.0 s

• 5.0 s

The dipper in a ripple tank vibrates at a frequency of 4.0 Hz and the resulting wave pattern is photographed.

The distance between the two crests shown is 20 cm.

What is the speed of the wave? 

• 4 cm / s

• 5 cm / s

• 16 cm / s

• 20 cm / s