Waves questions

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Waves question collection

Review Waves questions for Physics, with correct answers shown and coverage across wave properties; wave speed calculations; reflection and refraction.

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Question 1

Which equation links wave speed \(v\), frequency \(f\) and wavelength \(\lambda\)?
  1. \(v = f\lambda\)
  2. \(v = f + \lambda\)
  3. \(v = \frac{f}{\lambda}\)
  4. \(v = \frac{\lambda}{f}\)

Question 2

If a wave has wavelength \(0.2\,\mathrm{m}\) and frequency \(5\,\mathrm{Hz}\), what is its speed?
  1. \(1\,\mathrm{m/s}\)
  2. \(0.04\,\mathrm{m/s}\)
  3. \(25\,\mathrm{m/s}\)
  4. \(5\,\mathrm{m/s}\)

Question 3

What does a larger amplitude indicate about a wave?
  1. More energy transferred
  2. Lower frequency
  3. Slower speed
  4. Shorter wavelength

Question 4

How is period \(T\) related to frequency \(f\)?
  1. \(T = \frac{1}{f}\)
  2. \(T = f\)
  3. \(T = f^2\)
  4. \(T = f + 1\)

Question 5

What is the frequency of a wave with period \(0.1\,\mathrm{s}\)?
  1. \(10\,\mathrm{Hz}\)
  2. \(0.1\,\mathrm{Hz}\)
  3. \(100\,\mathrm{Hz}\)
  4. \(1\,\mathrm{Hz}\)

Question 6

Which type of wave needs a medium and is longitudinal?
  1. Sound wave
  2. Radio wave
  3. Light wave
  4. Ultraviolet wave

Question 7

What do all electromagnetic waves share in a vacuum?
  1. Speed
  2. Frequency
  3. Wavelength
  4. Energy

Question 8

In a transverse wave, the oscillations are in which direction?
  1. Perpendicular to energy transfer
  2. Parallel to energy transfer
  3. Along the gravitational field
  4. Towards the wave source

Question 9

According to the law of reflection, what does the angle of incidence equal?
  1. The angle of reflection
  2. The wavelength
  3. The angle of refraction
  4. The amplitude

Question 10

A wave enters a slower medium at an angle. Which way does it refract?
  1. Towards the normal
  2. Away from the normal
  3. Along the boundary
  4. Back along its path

Question 11

A wave has a \(2\,\mathrm{cm}\) wavelength. Which gap causes greatest diffraction?
  1. \(2\,\mathrm{cm}\)
  2. \(0.2\,\mathrm{cm}\)
  3. \(20\,\mathrm{cm}\)
  4. \(200\,\mathrm{cm}\)

Question 12

In a simplified model, ultrasound echoes form where what changes?
  1. Material density
  2. Material temperature
  3. Material pH
  4. Electrical resistance

Question 13

Which equation gives wave speed when you know distance and time?
  1. \(v = \frac{d}{t}\)
  2. \(v = dt\)
  3. \(v = d + t\)
  4. \(v = t / d\)

Question 14

Which property determines the pitch of a sound?
  1. Frequency
  2. Amplitude
  3. Wavelength
  4. Energy

Question 15

What allows light to cross a vacuum?
  1. Electromagnetic fields propagate without particles
  2. Longitudinal vibrations pass between particles
  3. Pressure variations cross empty space
  4. Electrons carry light through the vacuum

Question 16

Which EM waves are appropriate for radar detection?
  1. Microwaves
  2. Infrared
  3. Ultraviolet
  4. Gamma

Question 17

Besides reflection and transmission, which process can affect a wave at a material boundary?
  1. Absorption
  2. A frequency increase
  3. Creation of matter
  4. Wavelength loss at unchanged speed

Question 18

An EM wave's wavelength doubles in a vacuum. What happens to its frequency?
  1. It halves
  2. It doubles
  3. It stays unchanged
  4. It quadruples

Question 19

A black surface absorbs infrared. Which energy store increases?
  1. Thermal store
  2. Chemical store
  3. Kinetic store
  4. Gravitational store

Question 20

How does a ray through the optical centre of a thin lens travel?
  1. Straight through without changing direction
  2. Parallel to the principal axis
  3. Through the focal point before the lens
  4. Back along its incoming path

Question 21

What is the approximate frequency range of normal human hearing?
  1. 20 Hz to 20 kHz
  2. 2 Hz to 2 kHz
  3. 200 Hz to 200 kHz
  4. 20 kHz to 200 kHz

Question 22

Why is sound slower in colder air?
  1. Molecules transfer vibrations more slowly
  2. The source produces lower frequency
  3. Fewer air molecules carry the wave
  4. The wavelength stays fixed

Question 23

Which seismic waves cannot travel through liquid?
  1. S-waves
  2. P-waves
  3. Both P-waves and S-waves
  4. Neither P-waves nor S-waves

Question 24

Which imaging method uses non-ionising waves?
  1. Diagnostic ultrasound
  2. X-ray radiography
  3. Gamma-camera imaging
  4. CT scanning

Question 25

When a wave refracts, which property stays the same?
  1. Frequency
  2. Speed
  3. Wavelength
  4. Direction

Question 26

Which electromagnetic wave is used for satellite communication?
  1. Microwaves
  2. Gamma rays
  3. Ultraviolet
  4. X-rays

Question 27

Which electromagnetic wave is used in optical fibres?
  1. Infrared
  2. Radio waves
  3. Gamma rays
  4. Ultraviolet

Question 28

What type of reflection occurs at a rough surface?
  1. Diffuse reflection
  2. Specular reflection
  3. Total internal reflection
  4. Refraction

Question 29

A convex lens focuses light by doing what?
  1. Refracting rays towards a focal point
  2. Reflecting rays towards a focal point
  3. Refracting rays away from the axis
  4. Diffracting rays around its edge

Question 30

What is a main risk of ultraviolet exposure?
  1. Skin-cell damage
  2. Internal tissue heating
  3. Retinal heating
  4. Deep-tissue cell mutation

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Review Waves questions for Physics, with correct answers shown and coverage across wave properties; wave speed calculations; reflection and refraction.

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