This document contains 30 multiple choice questions about wave properties and behaviors. The questions cover a range of topics including: - Characteristics of progressive and stationary waves - Interference and superposition of waves - Speed, frequency, wavelength and amplitude of waves - Types of electromagnetic waves and their properties - Reflection, refraction, and polarization of light - Sound waves and resonance in pipes and tubes

1. 1 Which one of the following is a correct statement with regard to wave motion?
A Two waves are said to be coherent if they vibrate with the same frequency.
B For interference to occur between two sound waves, it is only necessary for them to be at the same place and
time.
C A wave traveling in a straight line will have a wave velocity that changes its magnitude sinusoidally in one period.
D The energy of a progressive longitudinal wave does not propagate along the wave but is trapped within the
oscillation of the particles of the wave.
ACJC 08P1Q20
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2. Fig. 21 is a graphical representation of a longitudinal wave where the vertical axis (Y−axis) denotes the displacement of
particle/s of the progressive wave from equilibrium position where positive and negatives represents displacement
respectively to the right or left of equilibrium position. The horizontal axis (positive X−axis) is distance travelled by the
wave in the direction of propagation of the wave.
Which one of the following set of statements is the most appropriate description of the wave in Fig. 21?
A Location P of the longitudinal wave at this instant is at high pressure.
B Location Q at this instant is at the longitudinal wave's antinode.
C Locations P and R of the longitudinal wave are the nodes of the wave.
D Location R of the longitudinal wave at this instant is at high pressure.
ACJC 08P1Q21
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3. A sound source, a plane reflecting surface and a microphone which is connected to a cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO) are
placed in a large chamber containing a gas as shown in Fig. 22.
When the microphone is moved from position P to Q (a distance of 2.00 m) as shown in Fig. 22, the microphone has
moved from an antinode through 5 nodes to another antinode. The CRO is set at a time-base of 1 ms per cm on its display
screen and the distance between 5 adjacent maximum peaks on the screen is 8.4 cm.
Which one of the following gives the most accurate set of values of the wavelength, frequency and the speed of sound in
the chamber?
Speed / m s
-1
Wavelength / m Frequency / Hz
A 476 0.80 595
B 381 0.80 476
C 238 0.40 595
D 191 0.40 476
ACJC 08P1Q22
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4. A warning siren on top of a tall pole is taken to be a point source and radiates sound waves uniformly in all directions. At a
distance 4d, the amplitude of the wave is A. What is the distance from the siren at the point where the amplitude of the
wave is 2A?
A 8d B 4d C 2d D d
AJC 08P1Q20
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2. 5. A tall vertical cylinder is filled with water and a tuning fork vibrating at 400 Hz is held over its open top. The water is slowly
run out and the first resonance of the air column is heard when the water level is 0.21 m below the top of the cylinder.
Neglecting end corrections, how far from the top will the water level be when the next resonance is heard?
A 0.32 m B 0.42 m C 0.63 m D 0.84 m
AJC 08P1Q22
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6. Air filled pipes of equal length are represented in figure below
fa , fb and fc are the frequencies of the fundamental vibrations of the pipes. What is the ratio fa : fb : fc.
. A 1 : 2 : 1 B 1 : 2 : 3 C 2 : 1 : 2 D 3 : 2 : 1
CJC 08P1Q22
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7. Sound travels by means of longitudinal waves in air and solids. A progressive sound wave of wavelength λ and frequency
f passes through a solid from left right. In figure 3.1, the dots on line X represents the equilibrium positions of the atoms in
the solid and dots on line Y represents the positions of the same atoms at a time t = to.

3. (a) Explain why longitudinal waves cannot be polarized. [1]
(b) What does distance D in figure 3.1 represent. [1]
(c) Taking displacement to the right of equilibrium position as positive, sketch on Fig 3.2, a graph of displacement
against distance at time to for Line Y. Label it Y. [2]
(d) Sketch on the same axis given on Fig. 3.2, a graph of displacement against position of the atoms at time = to +
T/4, where T is the period of the wave. Label it Z. [2]
(e) Hence show on Fig. 3.1 on the line Z, the actual position of the particles at time = to + T/4. [2]
(f) Excess pressure is the difference between the pressure at a point above the atmospheric pressure. On figure 3.3,
sketch the graph of excess pressure against distance at different positions at time to. [1]
(g) A person standing on the right side of line Y hears the sound at a frequency of f. Suppose he is moving to the left
along the line Y at a constant speed, he will detect a frequency higher than f. Explain. [1]
CJC 08P3Q3
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8. The table below shows four pairs W, X, Y and Z of polarising sheets cut into uniform circles. Each pair is mounted on the
path of initially unpolarised light. The polarising direction of each sheet is indicated by the dashed line.
Which of the following row gives the correct order for the intensity of the emergent light in decreasing order?
A XYZW
B YWZX
C XZWY
D YXWZ
IJC 08P1Q20
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9. A stationary sound wave was set up in a closed pipe. Which of the following row correctly describes the physical changes
for the displacements of the air particles and the air pressure at the open and closed end of the pipe?
IJC 08P1Q21
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10. Which of the following gives three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of decreasing wavelength?
A microwaves, ultraviolet radiation, infra-red radiation

4. B radio waves, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays
C gamma rays, ultraviolet radiation, microwaves
D visible light, gamma rays, radio waves
JJC 08P1Q23
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11. A wave pulse is traveling to the left as shown in the Fig. 24.1 below. Fig. 24.2 shows the variation with time of the
displacement of a particle P as the pulse passes it.
Which one of the following graphs represents the variation of the displacement with positions of the particles along the
path of the wave pulse at a certain instant?
JJC 08P1Q24
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12. The arrows on the diagrams represent the movement of the air molecules in a pipe in which a stationary longitudinal wave
has been set up. The length of each arrow represents the amplitude of the motion, and the arrow head shows the direction
of motion at a particular instant.
Which of the following diagrams shows a possible stationary wave that could be set up in the pipe?

5. A II only B III only C II and IV D I, II and IV
JJC 08P1Q25
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13. The intensity of a progressive wave is proportional to the square of the amplitude of the wave. It is also proportional to the
square of the frequency.
The variation with time t of displacement x of particles in a medium, when two progressive waves P and Q pass separately
through the medium, are shown on the graphs.
The intensity of wave P is I0.
What is the intensity of wave Q?
A ½ I0 B I0 C 8 I0 D 16 I0
MI 08P1Q21
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14. The figure below shows the relationship between the energy of a photon of electromagnetic radiation E and its wavelength
λ. Points P and Q marked on the graph represent two types of electromagnetic radiation.
Which of the following pairs of electromagnetic radiation correctly identifies P and Q?
P Q
A infra-red X-ray
B microwave gamma ray
C ultraviolet radiowave
D microwave ultraviolet
MJ 08P1Q17
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15. At a particular instant the profile of a surface wave on water is as indicated below.
Which of the graphs below best represents the vertical velocity of the water molecules at this instant, taking upward
velocity as positive?

6. MJ 08P1Q18
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16. Consider a tube of length 32.8 cm which is open at both ends. When a vibrating tuning fork is held close to one end of the
tube, a loud sound is detected. If the velocity of sound in air is 345 ms-1, what is the frequency of vibration of the fork?
A 789 Hz B 526 Hz C 263 Hz D 175 Hz
NJ 08P1Q21
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17. Chi Ching draws a diagram to show different regions of air molecules for a progressive sound wave moving to the right at
a certain instant. P, Q, R, S and T are particles at the centres of these regions.
Which of the following statement is true?
A R is moving towards the right at that instant.
B Distance between P and T is one wavelength.
C After a period of time, Q moves to the position of S.
D The amplitude of R is always zero.
DHS 08P1Q19
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18. A student blows at the end of a drinking straw of length 10.0 cm. What is the lowest frequency of sound produced? [Speed
of sound in air = 320 m s
-1
]
A 800 Hz B 1600 Hz C 3200 Hz D 4800 Hz
NYJ 08P1Q20
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19. Radar systems use waves of λ = 4.0 cm to detect incoming aircraft. The waves are passed along tubes called waveguides.
One part of the system is shown in the figure below where it is rectangular in shape. The length of 1 side (AB & CD) is 18
cm while the length of the other side (BC & AD) is unknown. Assume no energy is lost by the waves in the waveguide and
there is no phase change upon total internal reflection in the waveguide.

7. A wave R arriving at A can divide at A and reach C via the paths ABC and ADC.
(a) What type of electromagnetic wave does the wave corresponding to in the electromagnetic spectrum? [1]
(b) State and explain the amplitude of the resultant wave at C. [3]
(c) A different waveguide, having the dimensions 20 cm by 9 cm, has a wave T of λ = 16 cm travelling from E in the
direction shown below. A detector is placed at C.
By showing and explaining your working clearly, deduce the signal detected at C. [3]
NYJ 08P2Q4
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20. The figure below shows a displacement - distance graph of a progressive transverse wave at a particular time. The arrows
show the directions in which some of the particles on the wave are moving at that instant.
Which of the following statements about the wave is correct?
A The wave has amplitude 8 m and the phase of the particles on the wave is constantly changing.
B Energy is being transferred by the wave from the right to the left.
C The wave is moving to the right and its wavelength is 3 m.
D Particles P and Q have a phase difference of π radians at the instant shown.
PJ 08P1Q18
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21. Water waves travel across a ripple tank. The horizontal distance between a crest and the neighbouring trough is 25 mm
and the vertical distance between a crest and a trough is 5.0 mm. A crest travels 8.0 cm in 0.50 s. Which one of the
following is correct?
Frequency of the water wave / Hz Amplitude of the water wave / mm
A 3.2 2.5
B 3.2 5.0
C 6.4 2.5
D 6.4 5.0

8. RJ 08P1Q19
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22. The figure below shows how the displacements of air molecules, in a longitudinal progressive wave, from their mean
positions vary with the distances of their mean positions from the source O, at a particular instant. The displacement to the
right is taken to be positive. Which of the following statements is correct?
At this instant,
A points marked P, Q, R, S, T, U and V are rarefactions.
B points marked P, Q, R, S, T, U and V are compressions.
C points marked Q and U are rarefactions and the point S is a compression.
D points marked Q and U are compressions and the point S is a rarefaction.
RJ 08P1Q20
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23. Progressive waves of frequency 300 Hz are superimposed to produce a system of stationary waves in which adjacent
nodes are 1.5 m apart.
What is the speed of the progressive waves?
A 200 m s
-1
B 450 m s
-1
C 900 m s
-1
D 1800 m s
-1
SAJ 08P1Q21
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24. A loudspeaker emits a sound wave of amplitude A and intensity I. After some time, the intensity decreased by 6.00 %. The
corresponding change in amplitude is
A 2.96 %
B 3.05 %
C 94.0 %
D 97.0 %
SRJ 08P1Q16
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25. A microwave transmitter of frequency, f, is placed several metres away from a metal plate deflector. A microwave receiver,
connected to a microammeter, is used to detect nodes and antinodes along the normal from the source to the plate. The
microwave receiver is moved from one node through 10 antinodes to another node, a distance of L m. What is the speed
of the microwave?
A 0.16fL
B 0.18fL
C 0.20fL
D 0.25fL
SRJ 08P1Q19
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26. Fig 19.1 below shows a displacement-position graph of a progressive wave at a particular instant of time and Fig 19.2
represents the displacement-time graph of a particle on the wave.

9. The speed of the wave is
A 0.30 m s
-1
B 0.40 m s
-1
C 300 m s
-1
D 400 m s
-1
VJ 08P1Q19
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27. The figure below shows an arrangement to investigate stationary waves on a stretched string. The stationary wave
appears as shown below when the frequency of the oscillator is set at 75 Hz.
At what frequency must the oscillator be set so as to observe only two loops on the string?
A 15 Hz B 30 Hz C 60 Hz D 75 Hz
VJ 08P1Q21
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28. Which one of the following effects provides direct evidence that light is a transverse, rather than a longitudinal wave?
A Light reflected off the front windscreen of a car is cut-off when a driver wears his sunglasses.
B We can hear but not see round corners.
C Lightning is seen before thunder is heard.
D Light can cause emission of electrons from the surface of a metal.
YJ 08P1Q15
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29. Data is transmitted along glass-fibre cables in the form of pulses of monochromatic red light, each of duration 2.5 ns. What
is the best estimate of the number of wavelengths in each pulse?
A 103
B 106
C 109
D 1012
YJ 08P1Q16
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30. An organ pipe of effective length 1.20 m is closed at one end. Given that the speed of sound in air is 300 m s–1, the two
lowest resonant frequencies are
A 62.5, 125 Hz
B 62.5, 188 Hz
C 125, 250 Hz
D 125, 375 Hz
YJ 08P1Q17
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