Wave Problems

1. In a wave, the distance traveled by a wave during one period is called:

(A) Amplitude (B) Frequency (C) Wavelength (D) Displacement

2. A stretched wire resonates in one loop. The midpoint of the wire oscillates with amplitude
of A. What is the traveled distance of the midpoint in one period?

(A) A (B) 2A (C) 3A (D) 4A

3. A distance between two consecutive crests is called the wave’s:

(A) Period (B) Frequency (C) Amplitude (D) Wavelength

4. The frequency of a wave is doubled when the speed stays the same. Which of the
following is true about the wavelength?

(A) Doubles (B) Quadruples (C) Halved (D) Decreased to one-forth

Questions 5 & 6 - not on AP 1 Final, but useful information can be found at:
https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/University_Physics/Book%3A_University_Physic
s_(OpenStax)/Book%3A_University_Physics_I_-_Mechanics_Sound_Oscillations_and_
Waves_(OpenStax)/16%3A_Waves/16.04%3A_Wave_Speed_on_a_Stretched_String#:
~:text=The%20speed%20of%20the%20wave,by%20a%20factor%20of%2020.

5. A wave travels with a speed of v on a string of length L and mass M. The string is
stretched to a tension force T. If the tension in the string is doubled, what is the new
speed of the wave?

(A) 2v (B) v (C) v/2 (D )

6. A wave travels with a speed of v on a string of length L and mass M. The string is
stretched to a tension force T. If the linear density is quadrupled, what is the new speed
of the wave?

(A) 2v (B) v (C) v/2 (D)

 7. A wave pulse travels to the right along a thin string. The string is connected to a thick
rope. Which of the following is true about the direction of the reflected and transmitted
pulses?

(A) They are both upright

(B) They are both inverted

(C) The reflected is upright and transmitted is inverted

(D) The reflected is inverted and transmitted is upright

8. Two pulses of equal positive amplitude travel toward each other on a string. Which of the
following is the resulting wave at the moment when the two pulses completely overlap?

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)
 9. Two pulses of equal and opposite amplitude travel toward each other on a string. Which
of the following is the resulting wave at the moment when the two pulses completely
overlap?

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)
10. A string of length L oscillates at a frequency at which a standing wave is produced. What
is the wavelength of the wave in the string?

(A) L (B) L/2 (C) L/3 (D) 2L/3

11. A string of length L oscillates at a frequency at which a standing wave is produced. What
is the wavelength of the wave in the string?

(A) L (B) L/2 (C) L/3 (D) 2L/3

12. A string of length L oscillates at a frequency at which a standing wave is produced. What
is the wavelength of the wave in the string?

(A) L (B) L/5 (C) 2L/3 (D) 2L/5

13. A “snapshot” of a wave is given on the graph. What is the amplitude of oscillations?

(A) 0.5 m (B) 1 m (C) 1.5 m (D) 2 m

14. A “snapshot” of a wave is given on the graph. What is the wavelength?

(A) 1 m (B) 1.5 m (C) 2 m (D) 2.5 m

 15. A “snapshot” of a wave is given on the graph. What is the speed of the wave if the
frequency of oscillation is 16 Hz?

(A) 8 m/s (B) 16 m/s (C) 24 m/s (D) 36 m/s

16. A string with a length of 3 m oscillates at a frequency 6 Hz. What is the speed of the
wave in the string?

(A) 9 m/s (B) 12 m/s (C) 15 m/s (D) 18 m/s

17. A string with a length of 3 m oscillates at a frequency 6 Hz. What is the fundamental
frequency?

(A) 2 Hz (B) 3 Hz (C) 4 Hz (D) 6 Hz

 18. The wave interference on a surface of water is presented by the diagram. Which of the
following would represent the regions of maximum amplitude of the resultant
oscillations?

I from M to L II from M to P III from M to K

(A) only I (B) only II (C) only III (D) only I and III

19. A wave with a wavelength of 50 cm is traveling on a string. The graph below shows the
position as a function of time for a point on the string. If the frequency of the wave is cut
to half what is the average speed of the point?
(A) 3.6 m/s
(B) 0.8 m/s
(C) 1.1 m/s
(D) 2.2 m/s

20. A wave is originating from a source below. At point A the intensity is I 0. What is the
intensity at point B?

(A) 2I0
(B) I0
(C) I0/2
(D) I0/4
Multi Correct Questions

Directions: For each of the following, two of the suggested answers will be correct. Select the
best two choices to earn credit. No partial credit will be earned if only one correct choice is
selected.

21. The figure below represents a snapshot of a wave traveling though some unknown
medium. Which two choices are correct regarding this wave?

(A) The distance between any two adjacent lines is the amplitude.
(B) The wavelength is represented by d.
(C) The wave is a longitudinal wave.
(D) The frequency is the number of lines in the distance d.

22. Two waves travel on two different strings made of the same material and under the same
tension force as shown below. What can be concluded about the waves? Select two
answers.

(A) The waves have the same wavelength.

(B) The waves have the same frequency.
(C) The waves have the same speed.
(D) The waves have the same amplitude.
Answers

1. C 9. C 17. A
2. D 10. A 18. D
3. D 11. D 19. A
4. C 12. D 20. D
5. B 13. D 21. B, C
6. C 22. C, D
14. B
7. D 15. C
8. A 16. B