Section C: Exam Style Questions

Answers
a)

i)

ii)
b) i)

c)

Varying the amplitude of the vibrating bar will change the size of the waves i.e. creating
different wave amplitudes, assuming the frequency and wave speed are unchanged. [2]

i)

Transverse. [1]

ii)
a)

See diagrams above [2], (amplitude is half the peak to trough distance).

ii)

d) i)

2.

Increasing the frequency [1] of the vibrating bar creating the waves (will reduce the
wavelength and vice versa) assuming the wave speed is unchanged [1].

ii) Light waves. [1]

Count the number of waves that pass a given point [1] in a time measured using a
stopwatch [1] in seconds [1]. Divide the number of waves by time to get the frequency of
the waves in Hertz [1].
v =f [1] Therefore v = 7 Hz 4 cm  wave speed v = 28 cm/s [1]

Diffraction is the curving or bending of waves around the edges of obstacles. [1]
[2] for the diagram showing obstacle and
consequent curving of the wavefronts.

Physics Revision Guide

1.

b) The effect is not obvious because the wavelength is tiny compared to the gap size so either:
Increase the wavelength of the waves [1] by lowering the frequency [1] or decrease the gap size
[1] until it is only a few wavelengths [1].
3.

a)

Sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum but light waves can. [1]
Sound waves are longitudinal and light waves are transverse. [1]

b) Measure the distance to the wall, d [1], using a long sports department tape [1].
Measure the time, t, between making the sound then hearing the echo [1] using a stopwatch [1].
Speed = 2d/t [1]. Accuracy improved by making d large and repeating timings and taking an
average [1].
c)

Because the speed of light is very much greater [1] making the time impossibly short to measure
with a stopwatch [1].

Physics Revision Guide

4.

[6]

5.

Analogue electrical signals are continuously variable voltages [1] whereas digital electrical signals
can have either of only two possible values [1]:

6.

a)

b) and d) are correct. [1]

b) i)
ii)

10. [1]
Also increases by 10. [1]

iii) Because both i and r increase by 10 [1] the reflected ray has been turned through a total
angle of 20 [1].
7.
i = angle of incidence [1]
r = angle of refraction [1]
Refracted ray bends towards normal. [1]
Emergent ray bends away from normal. [1]
(Emergent ray is parallel to incident ray)

8.

a)

Incident ray travelling from glass towards air. [1]

Critical angle labelled. [1]
Reflected ray only shown. [1]
Ray reflected at angle c, by eye. [1]

b) i)
ii)
9.

a)

critical angle c = inverse sine 0.5 (or sin1 0.5) [1]  c = 30.

20 Hz [1] to 20 kHz [1].

b) i)
ii)

sine c = correct formula [1] with n = 2 correctly substituted [1].

2 div [1]  40 mV [1].

2 div [1]  10 ms [1].

iii) F = 1/T [1]  frequency = 100 Hz [1].

c)

Physics Revision Guide

Smaller in height. [1]

Fewer cycles of waveform shown. [1]