Chapter 13: The wave model – open ended questions .

Note: The content of Chapter 13: The Wave Model was covered in the 10th grade Physics course. This
worksheet is prepared for the review of the 12th grade IBDP students before Chapter 14: Wave Phenomena.

1. This question is about characteristics of waves

(a) Complete the following sentences by circling the correct words: [6]

In a transverse / longitudinal wave the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction energy transfer.

In a transverse / longitudinal wave the oscillations are parallel to the direction energy transfer.

Mechanical / Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium through which to propagate.

Radio waves and the vibrations on a guitar string are examples of transverse / longitudinal waves.

Sound travelling through air is an example of a transverse / longitudinal wave

A rarefaction is an area of high / low pressure in transverse / longitudinal waves.

(b) The diagram shows a longitudinal wave.

A B

(i) Mark on the diagram one complete wavelength and label it λ. [1]

(ii) Choose suitable words and phrases to complete the sentences. [6]

Label A indicates a ___________. This is an area of _______ pressure where the particles are
______________________. Label B indicates a ____________. This is an area of ________ pressure
where the particles are __________________. The particles oscillate ________________________.
The direction of motion and energy transfer is _______________________________.

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 (c) Draw a line for each statement to identify whether it refers to a displacement-distance graph or a
displacement-time graph [4]

(d) Order the electromagnetic waves by wavelength λ. Write a number from 1 to 7 in the column with 1
being the longest wavelength and 7 being the shortest wavelength.

2. A large water tank is set up so

that a wave can be generated
at each end of the tank. The
two waves, A and B, travel
towards each other at the
same speed. The graph shows
the variation of displacement
of the water surface with
distance travelled at a
particular instant.

(a) Deduce how many times greater the amplitude of B is to the amplitude of A [2]

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 (b) Wave A has a frequency of 9.0 Hz.

(bi) Calculate the velocity of wave A . [2]

(bii) Determine the frequency of wave B. [2]

3. The solid line in the graph shows the variation with distance 𝑥 of the displacement 𝑦 of a travelling
wave at t = 0. The dotted line shows the wave 0.20 ms later. The period of the wave is longer than 0.20
ms.

(a.i) Calculate, in m s–1, the speed for this wave. [1]

(a.ii) Calculate, in Hz, the frequency for this wave. [2]

(b) The graph also shows the displacement of two particles, P and Q, in the medium at t = 0. State and
explain which particle has the larger magnitude of acceleration at t = 0. [2]

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4. A longitudinal wave travels in a medium
with speed 340 m s−1. The graph shows the
variation with time t of the displacement x of
a particle P in the medium. Positive
displacements on the graph correspond to
displacements to the right for particle P.

(a) Calculate the wavelength of the wave. [2]

(b) Another wave travels in the medium. The graph shows the variation with time t of the displacement
of each wave at the position of P.

(b.i) State the phase difference between the two

waves. [1]

(b.ii) Identify a time at which the displacement of P is

zero. [1]

(b.iii) Estimate the amplitude of the resultant wave. [1]

5. A transverse water wave travels to the right. The diagram shows the shape of the surface of the water
at time t = 0. P and Q show two corks floating on the surface.

(a) State what is meant by a transverse

wave. [1]

(b) The frequency of the wave is 0.50 Hz.

Calculate the speed of the wave. [1]

(c) Plot on the diagram the position of

P at time t = 0.50 s. [1]

(d) What is the phase difference

between the oscillations of the two corks
in radians. [1]

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6. A sound wave in air has a speed of 330 m/s. The distance between a rarefaction and compression is 1.3
m for this particular soundwave.

(a) Calculate the period of the sound wave. [3 marks]

(b) A stone is dropped into a metal bath filled with

water, and the sound of it landing is heard by a person
in the room. The sound waves generated by the
impact of the stone travels to the person at different
speeds through the metal of the bath, the water and
the air.

The metal of the bath is 0.5 cm thick, the water is 23 cm deep, and the ears of the person are 160 cm
above the base of the bath. You may use the following values:

Speed of sound in air = 330 m/s

Speed of sound in metal = 3000 m/s

Speed of sound in water = 1500 m/s

(bi) Explain why the person only hears the sound once, rather than twice [1]

(bii) Calculate the time difference between the sound arriving at the person’s ear from the inside
(through the water) and the outside (through the metal) of the bath [3]

(c) The graph shows the displacement y of the particles in air due to the progression of the sound wave
x from the source to the ear. Positive displacement indicates movement towards the person and
negative displacement is away from them.

(ci) Annotate on a sketch of the graph the

position of at least two compressions and
two rarefactions [2].

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The wave model – multiple choice questions .

1. The graph shows the variation with time for the displacement of a particle in a travelling wave.

What are the frequency and amplitude for the oscillation of the particle?

2. The graph shows the variation with distance 𝑥 of the displacement of the particles in a wave.
The frequency of the wave is 600 Hz.

What is the speed of the wave?

A. 0.012 m s−1

B. 0.024 m s−1

C. 1.2 m s−1

D. 2.4 m s−1

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3. A wave travels along a string. Graph M shows the variation with time of the displacement of a point X
on the string. Graph N shows the variation with distance of the displacement of the string. PQ and RS
are marked on the graphs.

What is the speed of the wave?

PQ RS 1
A. B. PQ × RS C. D.
RS PQ PQ×RS

4. A sound wave travels through a gas at a speed of 270 m s−1. The graph shows the variation of
the displacement s of the gas particles with distance d from the source.

What is the frequency of the wave?

A. 180 Hz B. 360 Hz

C. 450 Hz D. 900 Hz

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5. A transverse travelling wave is moving through a medium. The graph shows, for one instant, the
variation with distance of the displacement of particles in the medium.

The frequency of the wave is 25 Hz and the speed of the wave is 100 m s–1. What is correct for this
wave?
A. The particles at X and Y are in phase.
B. The velocity of the particle at X is a maximum.
C. The horizontal distance between X and Z is 3.0 m.
D. The velocity of the particle at Y is 100 m s–1.

6. A wave of period 10 ms travels through a medium. The graph shows the variation of
particle displacement with distance for the wave.

What is the average speed of a particle in the medium during one cycle?

A. 4.0 m s−1 B. 8.0 m s−1 C. 16 m s−1 D. 20 m s−1

7. A longitudinal wave is travelling through a

medium. The variation with distance d of the
displacement 𝑥 of the particles in the medium at
time t is shown.

Which point is at the centre of a compression?

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8. A sound wave has a frequency of 1.0 kHz and a wavelength of 0.33 m. What is the distance travelled
by the wave in 2.0 ms and the nature of the wave?

9. A travelling wave on the surface of a lake has wavelength 𝜆. Two points along the wave oscillate with
the phase difference of 𝜋. What is the smallest possible distance between these two points?

𝜆 𝜆
A. B. C. 𝜆 D. 2𝜆
4 2

10. A travelling wave has a frequency of 500 𝐻𝑧. The closest distance between two points on the wave
𝜋
that have a phase difference of 60∘ ( 𝑟𝑎𝑑) is 0.050 𝑚. What is the speed of the wave?
3

A. 25 𝑚 𝑠 −1 B. 75 𝑚 𝑠 −1 C. 150 𝑚 𝑠 −1 D. 300 𝑚 𝑠 −1

11. Which graph shows the variation of amplitude with intensity for a wave?

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12. Two identical waves, each with amplitude X0 and intensity I, interfere constructively. What are the
amplitude and intensity of the resultant wave?

13. Three statements about electromagnetic waves are:

I. They are transverse wave.

II. They can be produced by accelerating electric charges.
III. They must travel at the same velocity in all media.

Which combination of statements is true?

A. I and II only B. I and III only

C. II and III only D. I, II and III

14. Three quantities used to describe a light wave are

I. frequency
II. wavelength
III. speed.

Which quantities increase when the light wave passes from water to air?

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III

15. What is a possible wavelength of a visible light photon?

A. 500 μm B. 500 nm C. 50 μm D. 50 nm

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Chapter 13: The wave model – markscheme for the open ended questions .

1. (a) longitudinal / transverse / electromagnetic / transverse / longitudinal / low / longitudinal.

(bi) between two successful compressions or rarefactions.

(bii) compression – high – closer together – rarefaction – low – further apart – left and right – from left
to right.

(c)

(d) 4 – 6 – 3 – 7 – 1 – 5 – 2

𝐴𝐴 5.2
2. (a) = ✓ =1.08✓
𝐴𝐵 4.8

(b) 𝑣 = 9 × 4 ✓ = 36 m/s ✓

(c) 36 = 1.8 × 𝑓 ✓ 𝑓 = 20 𝐻𝑧 ✓
0.05
3. (ai) v = « =» 250 «m s–1» ✓
0.20×10−3
(aii) λ = 0.30 «m» ✓
250
𝑓=« =» 830 «Hz» ✓ NOTE: Allow ECF from (a)(i)
0.30
Allow ECF from wrong wavelength for MP2
(b) Q ✔ acceleration is proportional to displacement «and Q has larger displacement» ✓

4. (a) 𝑇 = 4 × 10−3 «s» or 𝑓 = 250 «Hz» ✓ 𝜆 = 340 × 4.0 × 10−3 = 1.36 ≈ 1.4 «m» ✓

Allow ECF from MP1. Award [2] for a bald correct answer.
𝜋 3𝜋
(bi) «±» /90∘ OR /270∘ ✓
2 2

(bii) 1.5 «ms» ✓

(biii) 8.0 OR 8.5 «μm» ✓

From the graph on the paper, value is 8.0. From the calculated correct trig functions, value is 8.49.

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5. (a) «A wave where the» displacement of particles/oscillations of particles/movement of
particles/vibrations of particles is perpendicular/normal to the direction of energy transfer/wave
travel/wave velocity/wave movement/wave propagation ✓ Allow medium, material, water, molecules,
or atoms for particles.

(b) v = «0.50 × 16 =» 8.0 «m s−1» ✓

(c) P at (8, 1.2) ✓

(d) ALTERNATIVE 1
2𝜋 𝜆
Phase difference is × ✓ «= 𝜋»
𝜆 2

ALTERNATIVE 2
One wavelength/period represents «phase difference» of 2𝜋 and «corks» are ½ wavelength/period
apart so phase difference is 𝜋/OWTTE ✓
2.6
6. (a) 𝜆 = 2.6𝑚 ✓ 330 = ✓ 𝑇 = 7.9 × 10−3 𝑠 ✓
𝑇
(bi) The time interval between two sounds is too short for the human ear to detect. ✓
23 137 0.5 160
(bii) 𝑡1 = + = 0.431 × 10−2 𝑠 ✓ 𝑡2 = + = 0.485 × 10−2 𝑠 ✓
1500 330 3000 330

𝑡 = (0.485 − 0.431)10−2 = 0.054 × 10−2 𝑠 ✓

(c)

R C R C

Key for the multiple choice questions .

1. C 2. D 3. C 4. A 5. C
6. C 7. A 8. C 9. B 10. C
11. B 12. D 13. A 14. C 15. B

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