P1 5

Waves

Student book answers

The nature of waves................................................................................................................2
Measuring waves.................................................................................................................... 3
Wave properties: reflection......................................................................................................4
Wave properties: refraction.....................................................................................................5
Wave properties: diffraction.....................................................................................................6
Sound..................................................................................................................................... 7
Musical sounds....................................................................................................................... 8
Summary answers – Waves....................................................................................................9
Summary answers (continued) – Waves...............................................................................10
AQA Examination-style answers – Waves.............................................................................11
AQA Examination-style answers (continued) – Waves..........................................................12

New AQA GCSE Science © Nelson Thornes Ltd 2011 1

 P1 5

Waves

Physics P1 5.1 The nature of waves

Answers to in-text questions
a Waves on a rope or on a string.

b The particles become closer together.

Summary answers
1 a longitudinal
b transverse
c perpendicular
d parallel

2 a transverse
b i Along the rope away from the student.
ii The knot moves repeatedly up and down along a line that is perpendicular to
the direction of energy transfer along the rope (which is along original line of the
rope).

3 Hold the slinky at one end and ask the friend to hold the other end. Move away
from each other to stretch the slinky. To demonstrate a longitudinal wave, push your
end of the slinky towards and away from your friend repeatedly to send compression
waves along the slinky. To demonstrate a transverse wave, move the end of the
slinky repeatedly from one side to the other side or up and down. This will send
waves along the slinky that are always at right angles to the line of the undisturbed
slinky.

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Physics P1 5.2 Measuring waves

Answers to in-text questions
a amplitude: 9 mm; wavelength: 34 mm

Summary answers
1 a frequency
b wavelength
c amplitude
d wavelength, speed

2 a i The wavelength should be from one wave crest to the next.

ii The amplitude should be from a wave crest directly down to the mid-point
between the wave crest and the wave trough.
b As the wave moves across, P moves down to the bottom of the wave then back
to the top as the next wave crest arrives.

3 a 6.0 m/s
b 6.0 m

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Physics P1 5.3 Wave properties: reflection

Answers to in-text questions
a i 20°
ii 40°

b virtual

Summary answers
1 a less than
b equal to
c equal to

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Physics P1 5.4 Wave properties: refraction

Answers to in-text questions

a yes

Summary answers
1 a towards
b away from
c less than
d greater than

b All the light rays from a point on the bottom of the pool that refract at the surface
appear to travel straight from a point above the bottom.

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Physics P1 5.5 Wave properties: diffraction

Answers to in-text questions
a The light waves are transverse and the ultrasonic sound waves are longitudinal.

b radiowaves

Summary answers
1 a more than
b the same as

2 a Diffraction is the spreading out of waves when they pass through a gap or round
an obstacle.
b Where TV reception is poor, radio waves carrying the TV signal from the
transmitter mast do not diffract enough when they travel over hills. TV receivers which
are much below the diffracted waves will not receive a strong enough signal to give a
good TV picture.

3 The sound waves from the portable radio diffract when they pass through the open
door and some of the waves travel along the corridor.

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Physics P1 5.6 Sound

Answers to in-text questions
a A mouse.

b The ringing sound can be heard again.

c The sound energy is transferred by heating and the fabric warms up.

Summary answers
1 a reflected
b scattered, absorbed

2 a About 20 000 Hz.

b When the whistle is blown, a small ball in the whistle goes round the inside of the
whistle at high speed and makes the air inside vibrate. This makes the air outside the
whistle vibrate and creates sound waves in the air outside the whistle.

3 a Cliffs nearby would reflect the sound waves from the horn as their surfaces are
hard and smooth.
b Sound waves reflecting from the wall of the cavern would then reflect elsewhere
on the cavern wall. Someone in the cavern would hear echoes due to these different
reflections.

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Physics P1 5.7 Musical sounds

Answers to in-text questions
a An ambulance, a police vehicle, a fire engine, an ice cream van.

b The waves are not as tall.

c The waves would be smaller in height and stretched out more.

Summary answers
1 a vibrations
b amplitude
c frequency

2 a The waves would be taller but would have the same spacing.
b The waves would be more stretched out but would have the same height.

3 a i The note has a higher pitch (frequency).

ii The note has a higher pitch (frequency).
b The sound of a violin (played correctly) lasts as long as the violin bow is in
contact with a string. The sound of a drum dies away after the drum skin has been
struck. A drum note is less rhythmical than a violin note.

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Physics P1 5.1 – P1 5.7 Summary answers – Waves

ii The light ray bends towards the normal, where it enters the block and bends
away from the normal where it leaves the block. Its direction on leaving the block is
the same as before it entered the block.
b i refraction
ii diffraction
iii reflection

3 a light, radio (light and radio in any order)

b sound
c sound

4 a 3.0 m/s
b speed = frequency × wavelength
3.0 m/s = frequency × 1.5 m
frequency = 3.0 ÷ 1.5 = 2.0 Hz.

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Summary answers (continued) –

Physics P1 5.1 – P1 5.7
Waves
5 a The sound waves spread out as they travel away from the loudspeaker, so the
sound becomes fainter and the amplitude becomes smaller.
b i The waves on the screen become taller.
ii The waves on the screen become more stretched out across the screen, so
fewer waves appear on the screen.

6 a reflected, smooth
b rough, scattered
c soft, absorbed

7 a Approximately 20 000 Hertz.

b Keep the frequency and the loudness of the sound from the loudspeaker the
same throughout. Keep the loudspeaker, the board or cushion and the sound meter
in the same positions throughout.
With the board in position, measure the sound meter reading.
Replace the board with the cushion and measure the sound meter reading again.
If the reading for the board is higher than the reading for the cushion, the board
reflects more sound than the cushion.

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AQA Examination-style answers –

Physics P1 5.1 – P1 5.7
Waves
1 a Diagram must show direction of wave travel.
Diagram must show direction of vibration perpendicular to direction of wave travel.

(2 marks)
b Diagram must show direction of wave travel.
Diagram must show direction of vibration parallel to direction of wave travel.

(2 marks)

2 A amplitude 3
B frequency 4
C wave speed 1
D wavelength 2
(4 marks)

3 A It is a virtual image.
(1 mark)

4 a refraction
(1 mark)
b Diagram B
(1 mark)

5 Diffraction, when the gap is of the same order of magnitude as the wavelength.

(2 marks)

6 Similarity: They can both be reflected, refracted, diffracted.

Difference: Light waves are much faster/sound waves are much slower OR light
waves are transverse/sound waves are longitudinal. (2
marks)

7 v = f × λ so 256 × 1.3 = 333 m/s (2

marks)

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AQA Examination-style answers
Physics P1 5.1 – P1 5.7
(continued) – Waves
8 a i Any example using a mirror/water or a shiny smooth surface. (1
mark)
ii Any example of an echo. (1
mark)
iii Any example using a lens, e.g. spectacles, cameras. (1
mark)
iv Any example of hearing a sound around a corner. (1
mark)
b The wavelength of light is very small, so diffraction only occurs when light passes
through a very narrow gap.
OR
The wavelength of light is very small, so the diffraction effect is very small. (2
marks)

9 Wave speed = frequency × wavelength

Frequency = speed ÷ wavelength
Frequency = 300 000 000 m/s ÷ 1500 m
Frequency = 200 000 Hz (3
marks)

10 There is a clear, balanced and detailed description of how the wave form would
change including increased amplitude and frequency. The answer shows almost
faultless spelling, punctuation and grammar. It is coherent and in an organised,
logical sequence. It contains a range of appropriate or relevant specialist terms used
accurately. (5–6
marks)
There is a description of at least one of the ways in which the wave form would
change. There are some errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. The answer
has some structure and organisation. The use of specialist terms has been
attempted, but not always accurately. (3–4
marks)
There is a brief description of at least one way in which the wave form would change,
which has little clarity and detail. The spelling, punctuation and grammar are very
weak. The answer is poorly organised with almost no specialist terms and/or their use
demonstrating a general lack of understanding of their meaning. (1–2 marks)
No relevant content. (0
marks)

Examples of physics points made in the response:

• louder sound means larger amplitude
• so height of crests increases
• depth of troughs increases
• speed is constant
• higher pitch means higher frequency
• so wavelength becomes smaller
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• crests are closer together.