Chapter 13: Sound Waves

Question 1:

(a) Which statement about sound waves is correct?

(1)
A sound waves cannot be reflected

B sound waves are electromagnetic

C sound waves are longitudinal

D sound waves are transverse

(b) A microphone is connected to a data logger, which displays each sound wave as a graph.
The diagrams show the graphs for two different sound waves.

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 The graphs have the same scales.
In the horizontal direction: 1 square = 0.001 s
(i) The amplitude of sound wave Q is
(1)
A larger than the amplitude of sound wave P

B smaller than the amplitude of sound wave P

C the same as the amplitude of sound wave P

D zero

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(ii) The frequency of sound wave P is 250 Hz.
Find the time period of sound wave P.
(1)

time period = ........................................................... S

(iii) Find the frequency of sound wave Q.

(1)

frequency = ........................................................... Hz

(Total for question = 4 marks)

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Question 2:

A student investigates how air vibrates in a plastic pipe.

She blocks one end of the pipe and blows across the other end.

The pipe emits a sound with a steady pitch.

The student uses a microphone to monitor the sound.

(a) Explain the meaning of the pitch of a sound.

(2)
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(b) The student measures the length of the pipe and the frequency of the microphone signal for two
different lengths of pipe.
(i) Name two instruments that she will need for these measurements.
(2)
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(ii) Name the dependent and independent variables in her investigation.
(2)
dependent variable

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independent variable

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(c) The student collects this data.

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 Suggest three ways to improve this investigation.
(3)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)

Question 3:

A foghorn makes a loud, low-pitched warning sound when a ship is moving in fog.

(a) What is the relationship between the frequency of a sound wave and the pitch of the sound?
(1)
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(b) The foghorn emits sound waves with a frequency of 160 Hz.
The speed of sound is 340m/s.
(i) State the equation linking wave speed, frequency and wavelength.
(1)

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 (ii) Calculate the wavelength of these sound waves.
(2)

wavelength = .............................................. m

(c) A student investigates how the speed of sound in air varies with temperature.
The student's results are shown on the graph.

(i) Draw a straight line of best fit on the graph.

(1)
(ii) Use the graph to find the speed of sound when the air temperature is 20 °C.
(2)
speed of sound = .................................................. m/s

(d) The air temperature decreases while the foghorn continues to emit sound waves with a frequency of
160 Hz.
Explain how this decrease in temperature affects the wavelength of the sound waves.
(2)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)

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Question 4:

This question is about sound waves.

(a) Sound waves are
(1)
A electromagnetic waves

B ionising radiation

C longitudinal waves

D transverse waves

(b) Describe an experiment to measure the speed of sound in air.

(5)

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(c) The speed of sound in air is different for different heights above sea level.
The graph shows how the speed of sound varies with height.

(i) Use the graph to estimate the speed of sound in air 6000 m above sea level.
(1)
Speed = ........................................................... m/s

(ii) Describe the pattern shown by the graph.

(2)

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(iii) Some aeroplanes can travel faster than the speed of sound.
When an aeroplane travels faster than the speed of sound it causes a shock wave.
People on the ground hear this shock wave as a sonic boom.

A student says

Do you agree with the student?

Explain why.
(2)

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(Total for question = 11 marks)

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Question 5:

A microphone is connected to an oscilloscope to display a sound wave.

The diagram shows the trace on the oscilloscope screen.

The oscilloscope settings are:

Y direction: 1 square = 1 V
X direction: 1 square = 0.001 s
(a) (i) How many time periods are shown on the trace?
(1)
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(ii) What is the frequency of the sound wave?

(2)

Frequency = ........................................................... Hz

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(b) On the grid below, sketch the trace of a sound wave with a smaller amplitude and
a higher frequency than the wave shown by the dotted line.
(2)

(Total for question = 5 marks)

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Question 6:

Waves can travel on water, through air or in a vacuum.

(a) The diagram shows the side-view of a wave on the surface of water.
Each square on the grid represents 1 cm x 1 cm.

(i) State the wavelength of the wave shown.

(1)

wavelength = .......................................... cm

(ii) On the grid sketch the trace of a wave travelling at the same speed, but with a larger amplitude
and a lower frequency.
(2)

(b) Two students investigate the speed of sound waves in air.

They use a stopwatch that shows times to the nearest 0.1 s.
They use an outdoor running track as their measure of distance.
The track is straight and 100 m long.
Describe what else they must do to obtain a value for the speed of sound.
(5)
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(c) (i) State the equation linking wave speed, frequency and wavelength.
(1)

(ii) The speed of radio waves is 300 000 000 m/s.

A radio wave has a frequency of 31 MHz.
Calculate the wavelength of this radio wave.
(3)

wavelength = ......................................... m
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(d) A sound wave and a radio wave have the same wavelength.
State why they have different frequencies.
(1)
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(Total for question = 13 marks)

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Question 7:

A teacher and two students are measuring the speed of sound.

The teacher makes a loud sound by hitting two cymbals together.

Each student starts a stopwatch when they see the teacher hit the cymbals. They
each stop their stopwatch when they hear the sound.
(a) Describe how a sound wave moves through the air.
(3)

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(b) The students repeat the experiment and record their readings in a table.

(i) State the precision of Andrew's readings.

(1)
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(ii) State the equation linking speed, distance travelled and time taken.
(1)

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(iii) The teacher was standing 150 m from the students.
Use the experimental data recorded by each student to complete the table below.
Give your answers to an appropriate number of significant figures.
(3)

(c) The students look in a data book and find that the speed of sound in air is given
as 341 m/s.

The students discuss their results.

Evaluate these conclusions.

(5)

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(Total for question = 13 marks)

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Question 8:

Different types of waves are used in hospitals.

(a) Some of the waves used are electromagnetic.

(i) Which of these properties is the same for all electromagnetic waves?
(1)
A amplitude
B frequency
C speed in free space
D wavelength in free space

(ii) Draw a line linking each type of electromagnetic wave with its use.
(2)

(iii) Electromagnetic waves are transverse.

Describe how the vibrations of a transverse wave relate to the direction in which the wave travels.
You may draw a diagram to help your answer.
(1)

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(b) Another type of wave used in hospitals is ultrasound.
Ultrasound waves are used to make images of internal organs.
A scanner emits an ultrasound wave into the patient and records any reflections.
(i) The frequency of ultrasound waves is outside the range of human hearing.
Which of these could be the frequency of an ultrasound wave?
(1)
A 45 Hz
B 450 Hz
C 4 500 Hz
D 45 000 Hz

(ii) The scanner records the time from when a wave is emitted to when its reflection is received.
A technician calculates the depth of the reflection using the equation

Explain why the technician uses the value in the equation.

(2)
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(iii) An ultrasound wave travels faster in the patient than it does in air.
Explain how a change in speed affects the wavelength of the ultrasound wave.
(2)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)

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