General Properties of Waves
81 questions· page 1 of 9
A sound wave consists of compressions and rarefactions.
Which type of wave is sound and how does the pressure in a rarefaction compare with the pressure in a compression?
Options
| type of wave | pressure in a rarefaction | |
|---|---|---|
| A | longitudinal | smaller |
| B | longitudinal | greater |
| C | transverse | smaller |
| D | transverse | greater |
The graph shows, at one instant, the pressure variation along a sound wave.
Which point on the diagram represents a rarefaction and what is the wavelength of the sound wave?
Options
| rarefaction | wavelength | |
|---|---|---|
| A | P | X |
| B | P | Y |
| C | Q | X |
| D | Q | Y |
A cork on the surface of water moves up and down as a wave passes across the surface.
The diagram shows how the height of the cork above the average level of the surface varies with time.
The numerical value of the wavelength of this wave is equal to the numerical value of the amplitude of this wave.
What is the speed of the wave?
Options
A
B
C
D
A water wave travels from deep water to shallow water in a ripple tank.
What happens to the speed and to the wavelength of the wave?
Options
| speed of wave | wavelength | |
|---|---|---|
| A | increases | increases |
| B | increases | decreases |
| C | decreases | increases |
| D | decreases | decreases |
The table shows the speed and the wavelength for different sound waves in four different materials.
| wave | speed of sound / | wavelength / |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 340 | 0.19 |
| 2 | 1500 | 0.050 |
| 3 | 4000 | 0.23 |
| 4 | 6700 | 0.31 |
Which waves are ultrasound waves?
Options
A 1 and 3
B 1 only
C 2 and 4
D 4 only
Which quantity is defined as the number of wavelengths passing a point per second?
Options
A amplitude
B frequency
C speed
D wavelength
Which waves are longitudinal?
Options
A sound waves in water
B ultraviolet waves in air
C waves on the surface of water
D X-rays in a vacuum
Which row gives the velocity and wavelength of a wave that is an ultrasound wave?
Options
| velocity / | wavelength / | |
|---|---|---|
| A | 330 | 6.6 |
| B | 890 | 89 |
| C | 1500 | 6.0 |
| D | 4000 | 25 |
The diagram shows two waveforms.
Which arrow shows the wavelength of a longitudinal wave?
Options
A A
B B
C C
D D
A bell, on a wall outside a classroom, rings. A student is standing at point X shown on the view from above.
The door of the classroom is closed and the student in the room at X hears the bell ring.
The door is opened, and the sound heard by the student from the bell is louder.
What causes the sound reaching the student to be louder?
Options
A diffraction
B dispersion
C reflection
D refraction