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Chapter 14 Practice Paper: Wave properties and sound — question paper

QuizQuipPractice Series
QQ/GCSE-PHYS/CH14

GCSE (9–1) · GCSE Physics (Foundation and Higher)

Chapter 14 Practice Paper

Wave properties and sound

Duration: 40 minutes
Total: 30 marks
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Class:
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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.
  • You may use a calculator. Take the speed of sound in air as 340 m/s.
  • 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 for the MOE GCSE Physics syllabus. It is not an official MOE or school examination paper. Chapter 14: transverse and longitudinal waves, v = f λ, the ripple-tank and string practicals, sound and hearing, echoes and ultrasound, and seismic waves (with Earth’s structure).

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. 1

    As a wave travels, what is carried along with it?

    1. Athe whole medium
    2. Bmatter only
    3. Cmatter and equal energy
    4. Denergy, but not the medium
    ( )
  2. 2

    The unit of frequency is the

    1. Aseconds
    2. Bmetres
    3. Chertz
    4. Dwatts
    ( )
  3. 3

    Which of these is a longitudinal wave?

    1. Aa water ripple
    2. Blight from a torch
    3. Ca shouted note
    4. Dan S-wave
    ( )
  4. 4

    A buzzer completes 10 cycles each second. Its period is

    1. A0.1 s
    2. B10 s
    3. C1 s
    4. D0.01 s
    ( )
  5. 5

    Ripples of frequency 2.0 Hz and wavelength 0.50 m travel at

    1. A1.0 m/s
    2. B4.0 m/s
    3. C0.25 m/s
    4. D2.5 m/s
    ( )
  6. 6

    The highest frequency most young people can hear is about

    1. A200 Hz
    2. B2 000 Hz
    3. C340 Hz
    4. D20 000 Hz
    ( )
  7. 7

    An echo from a wall returns 0.20 s after a clap (v = 340 m/s). The wall is

    1. A1 700 m away
    2. B34 m away
    3. C68 m away
    4. D17 m away
    ( )
  8. 8

    Which statement about S-waves is correct?

    1. Athey are longitudinal and cross liquids
    2. Bthey are transverse and cannot cross liquids
    3. Cthey travel fastest in air
    4. Dthey are reflected by the mantle
    ( )
  9. 9

    Ultrasound scanning of an unborn baby is safe partly because ultrasound

    1. Atravels faster than light
    2. Bcarries no energy
    3. Cis a non-ionising sound wave reflected by tissue boundaries
    4. Dcannot enter the body
    ( )
  10. 10

    Refraction of ripples at a boundary between deep and shallow water happens because the ripples

    1. Achange speed, so change direction
    2. Blose frequency
    3. Creflect completely
    4. Dstop moving
    ( )

Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

  1. 11

    A class measures ripples in a tank. They count 24 ripples passing a marker in 8.0 s; a photograph against a grid shows crests 0.10 m apart.

    1. (a)

      Describe how the class could measure the frequency with a stopwatch.

      [2]
    2. (b)

      Calculate the frequency.

      [2]
    3. (c)

      Calculate how fast the ripples travel.

      [2]
    4. (d)

      State one way to improve the wavelength measurement.

      [1]
  2. 12

    A bat emits an ultrasound pulse that reflects from a moth. The echo returns 0.030 s after emission (speed of sound 340 m/s).

    1. (a)

      State why the pulse is reflected.

      [1]
    2. (b)

      Calculate the total distance the pulse travels before the detector hears the echo.

      [2]
    3. (c)

      Calculate the distance from the bat to the moth.

      [2]
    4. (d)

      The call has frequency 45 kHz. State whether a human can hear the call directly, and why.

      [1]
  3. 13

    This question is about seismic waves and the Earth’s structure. (Higher)

    1. (a)

      Describe the difference between P-waves and S-waves.

      [2]
    2. (b)

      Seismometers in an S-wave shadow zone record P-waves but no direct S-waves. Explain the conclusion this supports.

      [3]
    3. (c)

      What do P-waves reaching the far side suggest about the innermost layer?

      [2]

— End of paper —