WAVE MOTION WORKSHEET
CSEC Physics Past Paper 2 Questions (2010-2024)
1. (a) Define the term ‘longitudinal wave’. [2 marks]
(b) Figure 4 is a wave train on which the points K to S and a to d are shown.
Write TWO letter whose distance between them on the wave train in Figure 4 represents
(i) the amplitude [1 mark]
(ii) a wavelength [1 mark]
(c) Outline THREE differences between ‘light waves’ and ‘sound waves’. [3 marks]
2. (a) Waves can be described as transverse or longitudinal.
(i) Explain what is meant by a ‘transverse wave’. [3 marks]
(ii) Give ONE example of a ‘transverse wave’. [1 mark]
3. (a) (i) Distinguish between ‘transverse’ and ‘longitudinal’ waves. [2 marks]
(ii) State ONE example of each of transverse and longitudinal waves. [2 marks]
(iii) In the wave equation, velocity (v), frequency (f) and wavelength (λ) are related. Write the equation.
[1 mark]
(iv) A wave motion has a frequency of 10 Hz and a wavelength of 250 m. Calculate the speed of the wave.
[2 marks]
(b) Figure 4 shows a sinusoidal wave.
1
(i) Indicate on Figure 4 the amplitude of the wave. [1 mark]
Using Figure 4, determine the wave’s
(ii) amplitude (in metres)
(iii) period (in seconds)
(iv) frequency (in hertz)
[6 marks]
WAVE MOTION MCQ
CSEC Physics Past Paper 1 Questions (2010-2024)
Types of Waves
6. Which of the following diagrams BEST
1. Which of the following is longitudinal in nature? represents the wave generated in a ripple tank by a
(A) Infrared rays small spherical dipper vibrating at a constant
(B) Light rays frequency?
(C) Sound waves
(D) Water waves
2. Which of the following would be the basic
difference between a transverse mechanical wave
and a longitudinal mechanical wave?
I. Medium through which they travel
II. Direction of vibration of particles in
medium
III. Wavelength
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
3. In a longitudinal wave, the particles Item 7 refers to the following diagram.
(A) remain stationary
(B) move forward with the speed of the wave
(C) move backwards and forwards parallel to the
direction of travel of the wave 7. In using a slinky to demonstrate longitudinal
(D) move from side to side, perpendicular to the waves moving from Point A to Point B above, the
direction of travel of the wave spring is made to vibrate
4. Which of the following statements about waves is (A) parallel to AB
TRUE? (B) perpendicular to AB
(C) at an obtuse angle to AB
(A) Only transverse waves undergo reflection. (D) at an acute angle to AB
(B) Longitudinal waves do not undergo refraction,
but may be reflected.
(C) Diffraction can only take place with light
8. Which of the following waves travel only
waves.
(D) All waves undergo reflection, refraction and longitudinally?
diffraction. I. Sound waves
II. Radio waves
5. Which of the following waves are NOT
III. Water waves
transverse waves?
(A) Water waves on the sea (A) I only
(B) Light waves from a street lamp (B) II only
(C) Sound waves from a guitar string (C) II and III only
(D) Radio waves travelling from a satellite (D) I, II and III
2
Wave parameters
1. Which of the following waves had the Item 4 refers to the following diagram.
GREATEST amplitude?
4. Which of the following statements about the
wave shown in the diagram above is/are true?
I. Points P, Q and R are in phase.
II. Points S and T are out of phase.
III. The wavelength of the wave is the distance
PR.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
5. A vibrator on a ripple tank sends waves over the
2. Which of the following is the correct relation water. The vibrator is now adjusted so that the
between the wavelength, λ, speed, v, and frequency, number of waves created each second is doubled.
f, of a wave? The waves would now
(A) travel at half the original speed
(B) travel at twice the original speed
(C) have twice the original wave length
(D) have half the original wave length
Item 6 refers to the following diagram.
Item 3 refers to the diagram below which shows a
longitudinal wave where C and R represent
compressions and rarefractions respectively.
6. The diagram above illustrates the side view of a
water wave. The amplitude of the wave is
(A) 4 cm
(B) 7 cm
(C) 8 cm
3. If λ = wavelength, the distance between C1 and R2
(D) 21 cm
is
3
Item 7 refers to the following diagram. Item 11 refers to the following diagram which
shows a transverse wave at a particular instant.
7. The figure above shows the profile of a water
wave. Using the same scale, which diagram below
represents a wave twice the frequency and half the
amplitude in the same tank of water?
11. The wavelength of the wave is equal to the
distance
(A) PQ
(B) PR
(C) PS
(D) QR
Item 12 refers to the following diagram which
shows a longitudinal wave train produced on a
Item 8 refers to the following graph. slinky.
8. Which of the following pair of points are in 12. Which of the following distances represents the
phase? wavelength of the vibration?
(A) D to E
(A) Y. W
(B) C to E
(B) P. R
(C) A to E
(C) S, V
(D) S, T (D) A to B
Item 9 refers to the following diagram which shows
the instantaneous profile of a wave travelling across
a water surface.
9. From the information given, the frequency is
(A) Hz
(B) Hz
(C) Hz
(D) unknown
10. Whenever there is complete destructive
interference between two coherent wave trains, the
waves must be
(A) in phase
(B) out of phase by half a wavelength
(C) out of phase by one wavelength
(D) out of phase by a quarter of a wavelength
