HL IB Questions – wave phenomena

1. When a train travels towards you sounding its whistle, the much lessmassive than the carbon atom such that any

pitch of the sound you hear is different from when the train displacement of the carbon atom may be ignored.

is at rest. This is because

The graph below shows the variation with time t of

A. the sound waves are travelling faster toward you. thedisplacement x from its equilibrium position of a

hydrogen atom in a molecule of methane.

B. the wave fronts of the sound reaching you are spaced

closer together. 10
x / ×10 m

C. the wave fronts of the sound reaching you are spaced

2.0

further apart.

1.5

D. the sound frequency emitted by the whistle changes with

1.0

the speed of the train.

0.5

2. A car is travelling at constant speed towards a stationary

13

0.0 t / ×10 s

observer whilst its horn is sounded. The frequency of the note

emitted by the horn is 660 Hz. The observer, however, hears a

0.5

note of frequency 720 Hz.

1.0

a) With the aid of a diagram, explain why a higher

1.5

frequency is heard. [2]

2.0

b) If the speed of sound is 330 m s , calculate the

27

The mass of hydrogen atom is 1.7 × 10 kg. Use data

speed of the car. [2]

from the graph above

3. This question is about using a diffraction grating to view

(i) to determine its amplitude of oscillation. [1]

the emission spectrum of sodium.

(ii) to show that the frequency of its oscillation is

Light from a sodium discharge tube is incident normally

13

9.1 × 10 Hz. [2]

5

upon a diffraction grating having 8.00 × 10 lines per metre.

(iii) to show that the maximum kinetic energy of the

The spectrum contains a double yellow line of wavelengths

18

hydrogen atom is 6.2 × 10 J. [2]

589nm and 590 nm.

c) Sketch a graph to show the variationwith time t of

a) Determine the angular separation of the two lines when

the velocity v of the hydrogen atom for one period of

viewed in the second order spectrum. [4]

oscillation starting at t = 0. (There is no need to add

b) State why it is more difcult to observe the double

valuesto the velocity axis.) [3]

yellow line when viewed in the rst order spectrum. [1]

d) Assuming that the motion of the hydrogen atom is

4. This question is about thin lm interference.

simpleharmonic, its frequency of oscillation f is given

A transparent thin lm is sometimes used to coat spectacle

bythe expression

lenses as shown in the diagram below.

1 k
_ _
f =
air, refractive coating, refractive glass lens, refractive
2π
√m
p

index = 1.00 index = 1.30 index = 1.53

where k is the force per unit displacement between a

hydrogen atom and the carbon atom and m is the mass

p

ofa proton.

(i) Show that the value of k is approximately

incoming
1

560 N m . [1]

light

(ii) Estimate, using your answer to (d)(i), the

maximumacceleration of the hydrogen atom. [2]

e) Methane is classied as a greenhouse gas.

(i) Describe what is meant by a greenhouse gas. [2]

boundary A boundary B

(ii) Electromagnetic radiation of frequency

13
a) State the phase change which occurs to light that
9.1 × 10 Hz is in the infrared region of the

electromagnetic spectrum. Suggest, based on

(i) is transmitted at boundary A into the lm. [1]

theinformation given in (b)(ii), why methane is

(ii) is reected at boundary B. [1]

classied as a greenhouse gas. [2]

(iii) is transmitted at boundary A from the lm into

the air. [1]

b) Light of wavelength 570 nm in air is incident on the

coating. Determine the smallest thickness of the coating

required so that the reection is minimized for normal

incidence. [2]

5. Simple harmonic motion and the greenhouse effect

a) A body is displaced from equilibrium. State the two

conditions necessary for the body to execute simple

harmonic motion. [2]

b) In a simple model of a methane molecule, a hydrogen

atom and the carbon atom can be regarded as two

massesattached by a spring. A hydrogen atom is

I B Q u e s t I o n s – w a v e p h e n o m e n a