Topic 7 Practice Paper: General wave properties and sound — question paper (print)

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IGCSE · Cambridge IGCSE Physics (Extended (Core + Supplement))

Topic 7 Practice Paper

General wave properties and sound

Duration: 40 minutes

Total: 30 marks

Name:

Class:

Date:

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Answer all questions.
Section A contains ten multiple-choice questions. Choose one answer, A, B, C or D, for each.
Section B contains structured questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
The total mark for this paper is 30.

Original practice material written against the Cambridge IGCSE Physics syllabus. It is not an official Cambridge examination paper. Topic 7: Waves and sound (wave features, v = fλ, reflection/refraction/diffraction, sound, echoes, ultrasound).

For Examiner’s Use
Section A	/ 10
Section B	/ 20
Total	/ 30

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Choose one answer for each question. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1
Which row correctly pairs each wave with its type?
Transverse Longitudinal
A sound, light water, S-waves
B water, X-rays sound, P-waves
C P-waves, water S-waves, light
D light, sound X-rays, water
2
A tuning fork produces a note of frequency 440 Hz in air where the speed of sound is 340 m/s. The wavelength of the sound is
1. A1.29 m
2. B149 600 m
3. C0.77 m
4. D1.3 cm
( )
3
The amplitude of a wave on a rope is increased. Which property of the wave stays the same?
1. AThe wavelength, if the source is unchanged
2. BThe loudness if heard as sound
3. CThe energy it carries
4. DThe brightness if seen as light
( )
4
Water waves pass from deep to shallow water and slow down. Their frequency
1. Adecreases
2. Bstays the same
3. Cincreases
4. Ddrops to zero
( )
5
Straight ripples in a tank pass through a gap much wider than their wavelength. Beyond the gap they are
1. Areflected back on themselves
2. Bcompletely blocked
3. Cnearly circular
4. Dalmost straight, with slight curving at the edges
( )
6
Sound travels from air into water, where it moves faster. Inside the water its wavelength is
1. Ashorter
2. Bthe same
3. Clonger
4. Dzero
( )
7
A thunderclap is heard 4.0 s after the lightning is seen. Taking the speed of sound as 340 m/s and ignoring the light travel time, the storm is about
1. A1.4 km away
2. B85 m away
3. C344 m away
4. D680 m away
( )
8
A guitar string is plucked harder (same tuning). What changes?
1. AThe frequency rises
2. BThe speed of sound in air increases
3. CThe wavelength of the note increases
4. DThe amplitude increases, so the note is louder
( )
9
An echo returns from a wall 85 m away. Taking the speed of sound as 340 m/s, the time between shout and echo is
1. A0.25 s
2. B0.50 s
3. C4.0 s
4. D2.0 s
( )
10
Ultrasound is chosen for medical scanning partly because its short wavelength gives
1. Apoor direction but loud echoes
2. Bfaster-than-sound travel in tissue
3. Cfine detail and a well-directed beam
4. Dno reflection at tissue boundaries
( )

	Transverse	Longitudinal
A	sound, light	water, S-waves
B	water, X-rays	sound, P-waves
C	P-waves, water	S-waves, light
D	light, sound	X-rays, water

Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

11
A long spring is stretched across a laboratory. A student moves one end once up and down, and a pulse travels along the spring at 6.0 m/s. The student then moves the end up and down continuously 12 times each second, producing a train of waves of wavelength 0.50 m.
1. (a)
  State whether the wave on the spring is transverse or longitudinal, and describe the vibration of a single coil of the spring.
  [2]
2. (b)
  Calculate the speed of the continuous waves.
  [1]
3. (c)
  State what, if anything, is carried along the spring by the wave, and justify your answer.
  [2]
4. (d)
  The student doubles the frequency to 24 Hz without changing the spring. Calculate the new wavelength.
  [1]
12
A ripple tank generates straight wavefronts of frequency 8.0 Hz. The wavefronts are 25 mm apart in the deep section. In the shallow section the waves travel at 0.12 m/s.
1. (a)
  Calculate the speed of the waves in the deep section.
  [2]
2. (b)
  Explain what happens to the wavefronts as they enter the shallow section.
  [2]
3. (c)
  The wave generator is switched off and single large drops are made instead, sending circular ripples towards a barrier with a narrow gap. State what is observed beyond the gap and name the effect.
  [2]
13
A fire alarm sounds. Describe and explain what happens to the sound between the alarm and a person’s ears.
1. (a)
  Describe how the vibrating alarm produces sound waves in air.
  [2]
2. (b)
  State the type of wave and the direction of particle vibration relative to the wave’s travel.
  [1]
3. (c)
  The alarm is placed inside a sealed glass jar and the air is pumped out. State and explain what is heard.
  [2]
14
A fishing boat’s sonar sends ultrasound pulses downwards into the sea and detects the echo from a shoal of fish 0.20 s after each pulse. Ultrasound travels at 1450 m/s in the sea water. A second echo, from the seabed beneath the shoal, returns 0.34 s after transmission.
1. (a)
  Calculate the depth of the shoal below the boat.
  [1]
2. (b)
  Calculate the depth of the seabed.
  [1]
3. (c)
  Explain why every depth in this calculation is half of (speed × time).
  [1]

— End of paper —