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1.
A transverse wave travels from left to right. The diagram below shows how, at a particular
instant of time, the displacement of particles in the medium varies with position. Which arrow
represents the direction of the velocity of the particle marked P?
2.
The graph shows how the displacement varies with time for an object undergoing simple
harmonic motion.
Which graph shows how the objects acceleration a varies with time t?
3.
4.
5.
A.
sin P
sin S
B.
sin Q
sin R
C.
sin P
sin R
D.
sin Q
sin S
Which of the following electromagnetic waves has a frequency greater than that of visible
light?
A.
Ultraviolet
B.
Radio
C.
Microwaves
D.
Infrared
6.
A.
sin 30
sin 80
B.
sin 80
sin 30
C.
sin 60
sin 10
D.
sin 10
sin 60
7.
An object is undergoing simple harmonic motion with light damping. The natural frequency of
oscillation of the object is f0. A periodic force of frequency f is applied to the object. Which of
the following graphs best shows how the amplitude a of oscillation of the object varies with f?
3
8.
The graph shows measurements of the height h of sea level at different times t in the Bay of
Fundy.
Which of the following gives the approximate amplitude and period of the tides?
9.
Amplitude
Period
A.
6.5 m
6 hours
B.
13 m
12 hours
C.
6.5 m
12 hours
D.
13 m
6 hours
10.
11.
A.
rad.
8
B.
rad.
4
C.
rad.
2
D.
rad.
A string vibrates with fundamental frequency f. The wavelength of the sound produced in air is
. Which of the following correctly gives the frequency of vibration of the fourth harmonic of
the string and the wavelength of the sound in air?
Frequency
Wavelength
A.
f
2
B.
4f
C.
f
2
D.
4f
The graph shows how the velocity v of an object undergoing simple harmonic motion varies
with time t for one complete period of oscillation.
Which of the following sketch graphs best shows how the total energy E of the object varies
with t?
12.
13.
14.
15.
A force that varies sinusoidally is applied to a system that is lightly damped. Which of the
following must be true of the force for resonance to occur?
A.
B.
Its direction must always be in the direction of motion of the oscillations of the system.
C.
D.
Which of the following is a value of wavelength that is found in the visible region of the
electromagnetic spectrum?
A.
4 105 m
B.
4 107 m
C.
4 109 m
D.
4 1011 m
Two waves meet at a point in space. Which of the following properties always add together?
A.
Displacement
B.
Amplitude
C.
Speed
D.
Frequency
The shock absorbers of a car, in good working condition, ensure that the vertical oscillations of
the car are
A.
undamped.
6
B.
lightly damped.
C.
moderately damped.
D.
critically damped.
16.
The graphs show how the acceleration a of four different particles varies with their
displacement x.
Which of the particles is executing simple harmonic motion?
17.
The diagram below is a snapshot of wave fronts of circular waves emitted by a point source S at
the surface of water. The source vibrates at a frequency f = 10.0 Hz.
18.
A.
0.15 cm s1.
B.
1.5 cm s1.
C.
15 cm s1.
D.
30 cm s1.
Which of the following best describes the intensity of the waves at P and Q?
19.
20.
A.
maximum
minimum
B.
minimum
maximum
C.
maximum
maximum
D.
minimum
minimum
The shock absorbers of a car, in good working condition, ensure that the vertical oscillations of
the car are
A.
undamped.
B.
lightly damped.
C.
moderately damped.
D.
critically damped.
An object at the end of a spring oscillates vertically with simple harmonic motion. The graph
shows the variation with time t of the displacement x. The amplitude is x0 and the period of
oscillation is T.
21.
A.
x 0 cos
B.
x 0 cos
C.
x 0 sin
D.
x 0 sin
2
t
T
2
t
T
2
t
T
2
t
T
An object at the end of a spring oscillates vertically with simple harmonic motion. The graph
shows the variation with time t of the displacement x. The amplitude is x0 and the period of
oscillation is T.
Which of the following is the correct expression for the maximum acceleration of the object?
A.
B.
C.
D.
22.
2
x0
T
2
T2
x0
4 2
T2
x0
4 2
x0
T
One end of a horizontal string is fixed to a wall. A transverse pulse moves along the string as
shown.
Which of the following statements are correct for the reflected pulse compared to the forward
pulse?
23.
I.
II.
III.
It is inverted.
A.
I and II only
B.
C.
D.
I, II and III
Monochromatic light travels from air into water. Which of the following describes the changes
in wavelength and speed?
10
Wavelength
Speed
A.
increases
decreases
B.
increases
increases
C.
decreases
increases
D.
decreases
decreases
24.
Which of the following graphs shows the variation with displacement x of the speed v of a
particle performing simple harmonic motion.
25.
A particle performs simple harmonic oscillations. Which of the following quantities will be
unaffected by a reduction in the amplitude of oscillations?
26.
27.
A.
B.
C.
D.
The period
Monochromatic light travels from air into water. Which of the following describes the changes
in wavelength and speed?
Wavelength
Speed
A.
increases
decreases
B.
increases
increases
C.
decreases
increases
D.
decreases
decreases
Which graph correctly shows how the acceleration, a of a particle undergoing SHM varies with
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28.
A mass on the end of a horizontal spring is displaced from its equilibrium position by a distance
A and released. Its subsequent oscillations have total energy E and time period T.
New energy
A.
4E
B.
2E
C.
2T
4E
D.
2T
2E
12
29.
30.
31.
microwaves
B.
radio waves
C.
visible light
D.
X-rays
What is the best estimate for the refractive index of a medium in which light travels at a speed
of 2.7 108 m s1?
A.
0.9
B.
1.0
C.
1.1
D.
2.7
The graph below represents the variation with time of the displacement of an oscillating
particle.
32.
33.
A.
over damped.
B.
critically damped.
C.
lightly damped.
D.
not damped.
For a system executing simple harmonic motion, the restoring force acting on the system is
proportional to the
A.
B.
amplitude of oscillation.
C.
D.
frequency of oscillation.
A cart, connected to two identical springs, is oscillating with simple harmonic motion between
two points X and Y that are equidistant from point O.
13
34.
35.
A.
B.
point O only.
C.
D.
During one complete oscillation, the amplitude of a damped harmonic motion changes from
1.5 cm to 0.30 cm. The total energy at the end of the oscillation is E2 and the total energy at the
E
beginning of the oscillation is E1. The ratio 2 is
E1
A.
1
.
5
B.
1
.
25
C.
5.
D.
25.
Plane wavefronts are incident on a boundary between two media labelled 1 and 2 in the diagram.
The diagram of the wavefronts is drawn to scale.
14
36.
A.
0.50.
B.
0.67.
C.
1.5.
D.
2.0.
Which of the following best represents the direction of the velocity of the point P?
37.
38.
A.
B.
C.
D.
For a system executing simple harmonic motion, the restoring force acting on the system is
proportional to the
A.
B.
amplitude of oscillation.
C.
D.
frequency of oscillation.
sin 1
sin 3
B.
sin 1
sin 4
15
39.
C.
sin 3
sin 2
D.
sin 4
sin 1
The graph below shows how the displacement x of a particle undergoing simple harmonic
motion varies with time t. The motion is undamped.
Which of the following graphs correctly shows how the velocity v of the particle varies with t?
40.
The graph below shows how the displacement x of a particle undergoing simple harmonic
motion varies with time t. The motion is undamped.
16
Which of the following graphs shows how the total energy E of the particle varies with time t?
41.
An orchestra playing on boat X can be heard by tourists on boat Y, which is situated out of sight
of boat X around a headland.
refraction.
B.
reflection.
17
42.
C.
diffraction.
D.
transmission.
Diagram 1 represents equally spaced beads on a spring. The beads are 1 cm apart.
Diagram 1
A longitudinal wave propagates along the spring. Diagram 2 shows the position of the beads at a
particular instant.
Diagram 2
43.
A.
2 cm
B.
4 cm
C.
8 cm
D.
16 cm
Diagram 1 represents equally spaced beads on a spring. The beads are 1 cm apart.
Diagram 1
A longitudinal wave propagates along the spring. Diagram 2 shows the position of the beads at a
particular instant.
Diagram 2
18
44.
A.
0.4 cm
B.
0.8 cm
C.
1.6 cm
D.
3.2 cm
The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement x of a particle undergoing
simple harmonic motion.
Which graph correctly shows the variation with time t of the acceleration a of the particle?
45.
19
The block is displaced to the right by an amount X and is then released. The period of
oscillations is T and the total energy of the system is E.
For an initial displacement of
X
which of the following shows the best estimate for the period
2
B.
D.
47.
E
2
E
4
E
2
E
4
T
2
T
2
C.
46.
Total energy
Which of the following correctly describes the change, if any, in the speed, wavelength and
frequency of a light wave as it passes from air into glass?
Speed
Wavelength
Frequency
A.
decreases
decreases
unchanged
B.
decreases
unchanged
decreases
C.
unchanged
increases
decreases
D.
increases
increases
unchanged
The diagram below shows a pulse travelling along a rope from X to Y. The end Y of the rope is
tied to a fixed support.
disappear.
B.
C.
D.
48.
The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement x of a particle undergoing
simple harmonic motion.
Which graph correctly shows the variation with time t of the acceleration a of the particle?
49.
The two graphs show the variation with time of the individual displacements of two waves as
they pass through the same point.
21
x1 + x2 .
B.
x1 x2 .
C.
A1 + A2.
D.
A1 A2.
1. C 2. D 3. D 4. A 5. C 6. C 7. A 8. C 9. C 10. D
11. C 12. C 13. B 14. A 15. D 16. B 17. C 18. A 19. D 20. A
21. C 22. C 23. D 24. D 25. D 26. D 27. A 28. A 29. C 30. C
31. C 32. A 33. B 34. B 35. B 36. B 37. A 38. D 39. C 40. D
41. C 42. C 43. B 44. B 45. B 46. A 47. C 48. B 49. B
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2.
5.
Although the angles of incidence and refraction were not marked, it was a simple process to
calculate them and then use the usual Snells law relation.
6.
Many candidates thought that kinetic energy can be negative and opted for A or B. This
question clearly caused much confusion suggesting that the candidates had not previously seen
graphs of kinetic energy for SHM.
7.
The candidates clearly understood that the resonant frequency did not shift (as in C) and that the
amplitude of oscillation fell very rapidly as f diverged from f0. Hence A was correct. Many
teachers, however, argued that A, B and D were all equivalent, yet differently scaled, graphs.
This is not the case as the zero has been marked in on the y-axis only. Where the intersection of
the axes is the true origin then both axes will be marked with a zero (as in Q12).
14.
16.
Although this gave few problems to HL candidates, SL candidates were much more uncertain
with distracter D (effectively x against t).
22.
A surprising number of candidates chose D, perhaps thinking that if it has less energy then it
must necessarily be going slower. The energy of a wave, however, is a function of its
amplitude not its velocity.
If the wall had been rigid then III only would have been a correct response, but as this was not
available, C is the only possibility and we must assume the wall is not rigid.
28.
The time period is unaffected by a change in amplitude but the energy is directly proportional to
the square of the amplitude. A mass oscillating on a spring is not explicitly mentioned on the
syllabus but like the simple pendulum, it is an integral component of Simple Harmonic Motion
(SHM).
29.
Candidates are expected to recall the orders of magnitude of the wavelengths of the principal
radiations in the electromagnetic spectrum, as stipulated by the Guide.
35.
The interpretation of the expression The refractive index of refraction of medium 2 relative to
medium 1 is might have represented some difficulties for students for whom English is not the
mother tongue. Consequently, answers B and C were accepted.
36.
This (challenging) question was about the nature of a wave (here a pulse) as explained via SHM.
It has a slightly negative coefficient of discrimination and high coefficient of difficulty. Because
of the ambiguity in the position of point P (the answer A requires that point P be lower to the
left on the pulse segment), answers A and B were accepted. The published version of this
question will show velocity rather than acceleration in the stem of the question with the relevant
answer being B.
38.
It was disappointing to see the number of students who incorrectly selected B. This would
suggest that they were applying the formula without consideration to the situation. As > 1, and
as 4 > 1, the correct answer must be D. It may be advisable to teach Snells Law by referring
to big and small angles rather than to angles of incidence and refraction.
42.
The responses to this question showed that students had not been carefully introduced to the
physics of longitudinal waves and the meaning of their typical displacement-distance graph.
43.
The responses to this question showed that students had not been carefully introduced to the
physics of longitudinal waves and the meaning of their typical displacement-distance graph.
23