Physics GCSE: Properties of Waves

Exam-Style Questions

1.      Some water waves pass through a gap between two stepping stones across a small stream.

a) Finish the diagram to show what happens to these waves after they pass through the gap.

(2 Marks)

b) Write down two factors that affect the amount of diffraction of the waves.

Factor 1...............................................................................................

Factor 2...............................................................................................

(2 Marks)

(Marks available: 4)

Answer outline and marking scheme for question: 1

a) Curved waves (1)

consistent wavelength (1)

(2 Marks)

b) Diameter / width of gap (1)

wavelength / frequency of waves (1)

(2 Marks)

(Marks available: 4)

2.      The diagram shows a transverse wave.

a) Which of A, B, C or D is:

i) the wavelength

ii) the amplitude

(2 Marks)

b) Light waves carry different information to sound waves.

Give two other ways in which light waves are different to sound waves

(2 Marks)

(Marks available: 4)

Answer outline and marking scheme for question: 2

a) i) A

(1 Mark)

ii) B

(1 Mark)

b) any two from:

• light waves are transverse/ sound waves are longitudinal
• light waves can travel through a vacuum/ sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum
• light waves travel (much) faster/ different speeds
• light waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum
• light waves have a (much) higher freqency or light waves have a much smaller wavelength

(2 Marks)

(Marks available: 4)