Q1:

Mathematics of traveling waves: Four traveling waves are described by the following equations,
where all quantities are measured in SI units and y represents the displacement.
I: y = 0.12 cos(3x - 21t)
II: y = 0.15 sin(6x + 42t)
III: y = 0.13 cos(6x + 21t)
IV: y = -0.27 sin(3x - 42t)

Which of these waves have the same period?

Answer:
I and III, and also II and IV

angular frequency

wave number

Q2:
Mathematics of traveling waves: For the wave shown in the figure, the frequency is

Answer: 0.5 Hz
T = 4/2 = 2 s, f = 1/T = 0.5 Hz

Q3:
Standing waves on a string: A guitar string is fixed at both ends. If you tighten it to increase its
tension
A) the frequencies of its vibrational modes will increase but its wavelengths will not be affected.
B) the wavelength increases but the frequency is not affected.
C) both the frequency and the wavelength increase.
Answer: A

Q4:
Beats: Two pure tones are sounded together, and a particular beat frequency is heard. What
happens to the beat frequency if the frequency of one of the tones is increased?
A) It increases.
B) It decreases.
C) It does not change.
D) It becomes zero.
E) We cannot tell from the information given.
Answer: E

Beats: loud-soft-loud-soft modulation of intensity

Q5:
Doppler effect: A stationary siren emits sound of frequency 1000 Hz and wavelength 0.343 m.
An observer who is moving toward the siren will measure a frequency f and wavelength λ for
this sound such that
A) f > 1000 Hz and λ > 0.343 m.
B) f > 1000 Hz and λ = 0.343 m.
C) f > 1000 Hz and λ < 0.343 m.
D) f = 1000 Hz and λ < 0.343 m.
Answer: B

Observer moving, wavefront no change, so wavelength does not change

Q6:
Mathematics of traveling waves: The figure shows the displacement y of a traveling wave at a
given position as a function of time and the displacement of the same wave at a given time as a
function of position. How fast is the wave traveling?

A) 3.0 m/s
B) 0.75 m/s
C) 0.66 m/s
D) 1.5 m/s
E) 2.0 m/s
Answer: B

=3m
T=4s

v = ¾ = 0.75 m/s
Q7:
Waves on a string: Waves travel along a 100-m length of string which has a mass of 55 g and is
held taut with a tension of 75 N. What is the speed of the waves?
A) 3700 m/s
B) 370 m/s
C) 37 m/s
D) 0.37 m/s
E) 3.7 m/s
Answer: B

 = 0.055kg/100m = 0.00055 kg/m v = 370 m/s

Q8:
Doppler effect: As you stand by the side of the road, a car approaches you at a constant speed,
sounding its horn, and you hear a frequency of 80.0 Hz. After the car goes by, you hear a
frequency of 60.0 Hz. What is the speed of the car? The speed of sound in the air is 343 m/s.
A) 64.0 m/s
B) 49.0 m/s
C) 16.0 m/s
D) 36.0 m/s
E) 25.0 m/s
Answer: B
80 = f/(1 – Vs/V) (1)
60 = f/(1 + Vs/V) (2)
Vs = V/7 = 343/7 = 49 m/s

Q9:
Index of refraction: When light goes from one material into another material having a HIGHER
index of refraction,
A) its speed, wavelength, and frequency all decrease.
B) its speed and wavelength decrease, but its frequency stays the same.
C) its speed decreases but its wavelength and frequency both increase.
D) its speed decreases but its frequency and wavelength stay the same.
E) its speed increases, its wavelength decreases, and its frequency stays the same.
Answer: B

Q10:
Snell's law: A ray of light goes from one transparent material into another, as shown in the
figure. What can you conclude about the indices of refraction of these two materials?

A) n1 ≥ n2
B) n1 > n2
C) n1 = n2
D) n2 ≥ n1
E) n2 > n1
Answer: B
The higher the index, the smaller the angle.

Q11:
Thin lenses: A convex lens has focal length f. If an object is located extremely far from the lens
(at infinity), the image formed is located what distance from the lens?
A) infinity
B) 2f
C) between f and 2f
D) f
E) between the lens and f
Answer: D

Definition of focal length

Q12:
Lens-maker's formula: In the figure, the radius of curvature of the curved part of the lens is 24.0
cm, and the refractive index of the lens material is 1.750. What is the focal length of the lens?

A) +32.0 cm
B) -32.0 cm
C) -16.0 cm
D) +13.8 cm
E) -13.8 cm
Answer: A
1/R1 = 0
1/R2 = 1/(-24)
1/f = (1.75 – 1)(0 – 1/(-24) ) = 1/32

Q13:
Double-slit interference: In a double-slit experiment, if the slit separation is increased, which of
the following happens to the interference pattern shown on the screen?
A) The minima get closer together.
B) The maxima stay at the same position.
C) The minima and maxima stay at the same position.
D) The minima stay at the same position.
E) The maxima get further apart.
Answer: A

d increased, ym decreased
Δr = mλ, where m = 0, 1, 2, 3,
…
Δr = mλ = d*sin (θ) = d*tan(θ) = d*ym/L
Q14:
Single-slit diffraction: A single slit forms a diffraction pattern, with the first minimum at an
angle of 40.0° from central maximum, when monochromatic light of 630-nm wavelength is
used. The same slit, illuminated by a new monochromatic light source, produces a diffraction
pattern with the second minimum at a 60.0° angle from the central maximum. What is the
wavelength of this new light?
A) 425 nm
B) 450 nm
C) 475 nm
D) 500 nm
E) 525 nm
Answer: A

d*sin(40) = 1*630 nm (1)

divide equation (2) by (1):

Q15:
Circular aperture: Light of wavelength 633 nm from a He-Ne laser passes through a circular
aperture and is observed on a screen 4.0 m behind the aperture. The diameter of the central bright
area is 5.4 cm. What is the diameter of the aperture?
A) 110 μm
B) 2.0 μm
C) 6600 μm
D) 960 μm
Answer: A

 = 633 nm = 0.633 μm
L=4m
w = 5.4 cm = 0.054 m
D = 114 μm
Q16:
Thin lenses: Which statements are true about a VIRTUAL image? (There may be more than one
correct choice.)
A) Its location can be calculated, but it cannot be viewed directly by your eye without using
auxiliary lenses.
B) It cannot be photographed.
C) It cannot be viewed on a screen.
D) A plane mirror always forms a virtual image.
E) A concave lens always forms a virtual image.
Answer: C, D, E

Q17:
Refracting telescope: A simple refracting telescope provides large magnification by employing
A) a short focal length objective and a short focal length eyepiece.
B) a short focal length objective and a long focal length eyepiece.
C) a long focal length objective and a short focal length eyepiece.
D) a long focal length objective and a long focal length eyepiece.
Answer: C

Q18:
Thin lenses: A 4.0-cm tall object is placed 50.0 cm from a diverging lens having a focal length
of magnitude 25.0 cm. What are the nature and location of the image? The image is
A) real, 4.0 cm tall, and 20 cm from the lens on the side opposite the object.
B) virtual, 4.0 cm tall, and 20 cm from the lens on the side opposite the object.
C) virtual, 2.0 cm tall, and 10 cm from the lens on the side opposite the object.
D) virtual, 1.3 cm tall, and 16.7 cm from the lens on the same side of the object.
E) real, 1.3 cm tall, and 16.7 cm from the lens on the same side of the object.
Answer: D

f = - 25 cm
s = 50 cm
s’ = - 16.7 cm
image size = 16.7/50*4 = 1.3 cm
Q19:
Compound microscope: The distance between the object and the eyepiece of a compound
microscope is 18.0 cm. The focal length of its objective lens is 0.80 cm and the eyepiece has a
focal length of 2.3 cm. The near-point distance of the person using the microscope is 25.0 cm.
What is the total overall magnification of the microscope?
A) -120 x
B) -184 x
C) -200 x
D) -360 x
E) -480 x
Answer: C

L = 18 – 0.8 – 2.3 = 14.9 cm, fobj = 0.8 cm, feye = 2.3 cm

Q20:
Eyes: The near point of a farsighted person's uncorrected eyes is 80 cm. What power contact
lens should be used to move the near point to 25 cm from this person's eyes?
A) 2.8 diopters
B) -2.8 diopters
C) -4.0 diopters
D) -4.2 diopters
E) 4.2 diopters
Answer: A
1/f = 1/0.25 – 1/0.8 = 4 – 1.25 = 2.75 diopters

Q21:
Eyes: A nearsighted physicist cannot see things clearly beyond 90 cm from her eyes. What is the
power of the contact lenses that will enable her to see very distant objects clearly?
A) 1.1 diopters
B) -1.1 diopters
C) -1.7 diopters
D) -2.2 diopters
E) 2.2 diopters
Answer: B

1/f = 1/infinitive – 1/0.9 = 0 – 1.1 = -1.1 diopters

Q22:
Standing sound waves: The lowest-pitch tone to resonate in a pipe of length L that is open at
both ends is 200 Hz. Which one of the following frequencies will NOT resonate in the same
pipe?
A) 1000 Hz
 B) 800 Hz
C) 400 Hz
D) 600 Hz
E) 900 Hz

Answer: E

Q23:
Standing sound waves: The lowest-pitch tone to resonate in a pipe of length L that is closed at
one end and open at the other end is 200 Hz. Which one of the following frequencies will NOT
resonate in the same pipe?
A) 1400 Hz
B) 400 Hz
C) 1000 Hz
D) 600 Hz
E) 1800 Hz

Answer: B)

Q24:
Diffraction grating: In a diffraction grating experiment, light of 600 nm wavelength produces a
first-order maximum 0.350 mm from the central maximum on a distant screen. A second
monochromatic source produces a third-order maximum 0.870 mm from the central maximum
when it passes through the same diffraction grating. What is the wavelength of the light from
the second source? (hint assume sin () = tan ()).
Answer: 497nm

 = d * sin( )

600 = d * sin( )

3*  = d *sin()

  = sin (( )/ sin (( )

dy = L * tan( )

0.35/0.87 = tan (( )/ tan (( )

  = 
 =  nm

Q25:
Total internal reflection: A ray of light strikes a boundary between two transparent materials, and
there is no transmitted ray, as shown in the figure. What can you conclude about the indices of
refraction of these two materials?

A) n2 ≥ n1
B) n1 ≥ n2
C) n1 > n2
D) n2 > n1
E) n1 = n2

Q26:
Plane mirrors: As you walk away from a vertical plane mirror, your image in the mirror

A) is always a real image, no matter how far you are from the mirror.
B) may or may not decrease in height, depending on where the observer is positioned.
C) decreases in height.
D) is always the same height.
E) changes from being a virtual image to a real image as you pass the focal point.