1.

Define the term progressive waves (1mk)

2. Explain the term ‘phase’ as used in waves (1 mark)

3. State one difference between:

(i) Mechanical and electromagnetic waves. (1mk)
(ii) Stationary waves and progressive waves (1mk)
(iii) Transverse waves and longitudinal waves (1mk)

4. Name two types of progressive wave motion

5. State three conditions necessary for the formation of stationary waves by two
progressive waves traveling in opposite direction. (3mks)

6. State five properties of stationary/ standing waves. (5mks)

7. State the necessary conditions for stationary waves to be generated (2mk)

8. State two differences between stationary and progressive wave. (2mk)

9. Name a property of light that shows it is a transverse wave.

10. State THREE differences between light waves and sound waves.

11. Explain why radio wave signals are easier to receive than TV waves signals in a
place surrounded by hills. 2mks

12. In an experiment using a ripple tank the frequency, f of the electric pulse
generator was reduced to one third of its original value. How does the new
wave length compare with the initial wavelength?

13. When a sound wave travels from a dense to a less dense gas, its velocity
changes. What wave property does this observation show? Explain your answer.

14. The figure below shows a transverse stationary wave along a string.

i) Label the nodes and antinodes. (1mk)

ii) If the distance between an antinode and a node is 0.08m, determine the
wavelength of the wave of the stationary wave. (2mk)

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 1
15. Figure shows a standing wave on a string of length 27.0cm.

27.0cm

Determine the wavelength of the wave. (2mks)

16. Frequency, velocity and wavelength are physical properties of a wave. Which of
these three
properties depend only on;
(i) The behaviour of the source of the wave. (1mk)
(ii) The medium through which the wave travels. (1mk)

17. Figure below shows the propagation of a certain water wave in air.

510m
Find the frequency of the wave (speed of wave in air = 340m/s) (3 mk)

18. The diagram below shows a long tank of water in which waves are produced. A
small cork is placed along the wave path.
Cork

Water

4.5m
i) If four complete waves are produced every second. What is the period of
the waves? (2mk)
ii) What is the wavelength? (1mk)
iii) How does the cork move as the wave progress? Explain? (2mk)

REFLECTION
1. State one factor which does not change as water waves move from shallow to
deep end (1mk)

2. The figure below shows circular waves approaching a straight reflector. Complete
the sketch to show what happens when the waves hit the reflector (1mk)

FORM 3 : W A V E Straight
S II reflector Pg 2
3. Figure shows wave front approaching a concave surface.

Complete the diagram to show wave fronts formed after striking the surface.
Show how the focal point of the surface is located. (2mk

4. The figure below shows circular waves originating from the principal focus F of a
concave mirror and moving towards the mirror

Complete the diagram to show the reflected waves. (1mk)

14. The figure below shows circular waves approaching a straight reflector.
Complete the sketch to show what happens when the waves hit the reflector
Incident waves (1mk)

Plane reflector

5. The figure below shows straight wave fronts incident on convex reflector. Complete
the diagram to show the reflected wave fronts. (2mks)

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 3
REFRACTION
1. Water waves from a given source move from a deeper a shallow to end. What
effect would this have on the;
(i) Frequency (1mk)
(ii) Wavelength
(1mk)
(iii) Velocity of the wave
2. State one effect that would be observed when water waves pass from deep to
shallow water.

3. Give a reason why television and FM radio waves have a shorter range than
medium waves (MW)

4. Sounds are much clearer at night than during daytime. Explain this phenomenon
(3 mks)
5. The fig shows the displacement of a practice in progressive wave incident on a
boundary between deep and shallow regions.
Deep Shallow

(i) Complete the diagram to show what is observed after boundary. (1mk)
(ii) Explain the observation in (i) above. (1mk)

6. Fig shows plane waves in a ripple tank. The water is deeper in section A & C than
in section B.

7. Draw the waves after passing section B. (2mks)

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 4
 Deep Shallow Deep

8. Water waves from a given source move from a deeper a shallow to end.Draw the
wave fronts of the wave after passing over the object.
Barrier at an angle
Deep region

Shallow region

a) Continue the wave path in shallow water (1 mk)

b) State the changes which occur to the wave when it crosses from deep to shallow
water (2 mk)
c) Calculate the wavelength of the wave in shallow water given that its velocity is 8
cm/s. (3 mk)

9. The figure below shows sound waves emitted by a drum struck.

Explain why the wavefronts are directed to the ground (2mks)

10. The figure below shows a wave generated in a swimming pool from the deep end
of the pool. Draw the wave and wavefront through to the shallow end(2mk)
Wavefronts Wave

Shallow end Deep end

DIFRACTION
1. Define the term “diffraction” as applied in waves (1mk)

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 5
2. What condition is necessary for a wave incident on a slit to be diffracted?(1mk)

3. A person standing behind a wall hears a bell ringing although he cannot see the
bell. What property of sound enables him to hear the sound? (1 mk)

4. The figure shows wave fronts approaching a wide opening

i) Complete the diagram to show the appearance of the wave fronts after
crossing the opening (1mk)
ii) State what would be observed on the pattern if the gap was made smaller
(1mk)
5. The figure represents crests of water waves approaching a wide opening
in figure (a). Crests of the same water waves are now approaching a narrow
opening figure (b). Sketch the crests after passing through the narrow opening.

(a) (b)
6. Figure below shows wavefront before and after passing through an opening as
shown

State what would be observed on the pattern after passing the opening if
(i) wave length is increased (1mk)
(ii) Gap is increased (1mk)
7. Draw the diagrams to illustrate what happens when plane waves are incident on a
slit.
i) When the width of the slit is large compared with the wavelengths of the
waves. (2mks)
ii) When the width of the slit is small compared with wavelength of the waves.

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 6
 (2mks)
8. Figures (a) and (b). Show wave fronts incident on barriers blocking part of the
path.
(a) (b)

Barrier Barrier

On the same figures sketch the wave fronts to show the behaviour of the waves as
they pass each barrier and after passing the barrier. (1mk)

INTERFERENCE
1. What is meant by the term interference as applied to waves.(1mk)

2. Explain the meaning of coherent source of wave. (1mk)

3. Narrow slits cannot be used to demonstrate interference of sound waves. Explain

4. Define the term monochromatic light (1mk)

5. State two conditions necessary for production of interference. (2mks)

6. State one condition necessary for producing interference of sound waves.(1 mk)

7. State the conditions for diffraction of light to occur.

8. State two conditions for two sources of waves to be coherent. (2mk)

SOUND WAVES
1. Figure shows two speakers connected to an audio – frequency generator.
Q
Speaker

Audio-frequency generator
A B

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 7
Speaker P
 (i) Why are the loudspeakers connected to the same audio – frequency generator?

(ii) State and explain the observations made by an observer moving along the path
PQ (2mk)

(iii) State the observations made if the frequency of the signal generator was
increased. (1mk)

(iv) Explain the observation made when an observer walks alongAB (2mk)

(v) State what would be observed if a cathode ray oscilloscope is moved along line
XY (2mks)

2. The figure below shows two speakers S1 and S2 which produce sound of the same
frequency. They are placed equidistant from a line AB and a line PQ. (PQ is
perpendicular to line AB)

S1

P Q

S2

i) A student walking from A to B hears alternating loud and soft sounds. Explain why
at some point the sound heard is softer (2mk)
ii) The student now walks along line PQ. State with reason the nature of the sound
the student hears. (2mk)

3. Figure shows the set up used to demonstrate interference of sound.

X
Speaker
4.95 m
C1

Audio-frequency generator
C O
5.30 m

Speaker Y
FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 8
 An observer moves along XY.
(i) State and explain the observation(s) made.
(ii) State what would be observed if a cathode ray oscilloscope is moved along
line XY
(iii) What will a student hear if he moves along the line OC?
(iv) State the effect on the observation when the frequency of the signal is
reduced.
(v) Why are the loudspeakers connected to the same audio-frequency
generator?
(vi) The set up above was used to study interference of sound.
Determine the frequency of the signal generator given the velocity of
sound is 340m/s and that C1 is the first constructive interference after the
central order.

11. Figure shows the set up used to demonstrate interference of sound. An observer
moves along XY
X
Speaker
3.4 m
C
Audio-frequency generator
C O
8.4 m

Speaker Y
(i) State and explain the observations made. (3mk
(ii) What will a student hear if he moves along the line OC? (1mk)
(iii) State the effect on the observation when the frequency of the signal is
reduced. (1mk)
(iv) Why are the loudspeakers connected to the same audio-frequency
generator? (1mk)
(v) Determine the frequency of the signal generator from the set up above
given that C is the second constructive interference after the central order
and the velocity of sound is 320m/s. (3mk)
WATER WAVES
1. Fig shows plane water waves approaching two narrow slits S1 and S2.
B1

P
S1

A A1

S2

FORM 3 :
Waves W A V E S II Pg 9
(a) Complete the diagram to show how the waves pass through the narrow slits S1
and S2
(b) The slits S1 and S2 in figure above are now replaced with two identical speakers
S1and S2connected to the same source of sound waves (audio signal generator).
(c) Line AA1 is the perpendicular bisector of the line joining S1and S2. BB1is
perpendicular to AA1. State and explain what an observer hears on walking
along.
(i) AA1 (2mk)
(ii) BB1 (2mk)
(d) Given that at point P along B1B, the second sound is heard when the path
difference S2P – S1P = 40cm. If the frequency if the source of the sound waves is
1750Hz, estimate the speed of sound waves in air, from the information provided.
(4mk)

LIGHT WAVES
1. In the Young’s double slit experiment, an interference pattern of bright and dark
fringes was formed as shown in figure below by monochromatic light of
wavelength  coming from a source through slits M and N
Bright
Dark
X Bright
M
Dark
Bright
Dark
S Bright

(i) Write an expression for the path difference between MX and NX where X
corresponds to the 2nd bright fringe. 1mk*
(ii) Explain how the dark and bright fringes are formed (2mks)
(iii) State and explain what would happen on the screen if the slits M and N were
made larger.

2. In Young’s double slit experiment, mercury green light of wavelength

5.4 x 10-7M was used with a pair of parallel slits of separation of 0.60 mm. The
fringes were observed at a distance of 40.0 cm from the slits. Calculate the
fringe separation (3mk)

3. The figure below shows the rays of monochromatic light incident on two adjacent
slits S1 and S2

Monochromatic light source

S1
y
FORM 3 : S0
W A V E S II Pg 10
d
 a)What is the purpose of having slit S0, behind the slits S1 and S2
b) State what is observed on the screen when the
c) Slit separation, d, is reduced. (1mk)
d) Distance, x, is increased. (1mk)
e) White light is used. (1mk)
f) Give an expression for the wavelength λ of light in terms of d,x and y (1mk)
g) In the space below sketch the interference pattern observed if white light was
used instead of monochromatic light (1mk)
h) Explain the variation of frequency across the pattern in b(iii) above. (1mk)
i) Given that the wavelength of the monochromatic light is 1.0x10 -8m, calculate its
frequency (Speed of light is 3.0x108ms-1) (3mks)

4. In an experiment to observe interference of light waves, double slit was placed

close to the source of light as shown below:

Monochromatic S1
source
S
Screen
S2

Double slit
i) State the function of the double slit (1mk)
ii) State and explain what is observed on the screen.
iii) State and explain what would happen on the screen if the slits made larger
iv) State what is observed when the slit separation is reduced (1mk)
v) State what is observed on the screen when white light is used instead of
monochromatic source. (2mk)

5. Fig below shows the wave starting from two coherent sources S 1 and S2
S1
S2
P
What would be observed at the central point P if the waves are:
i) Light waves (1mk)
ii) Sound waves (1mk)
iii) State the conditions for diffraction of light to occur.
6. In a double slit interference experiment , explain the effect on the appearance of
the fringes of
(i) Reducing the separation of the slits but keeping the width of each
slit constant. (2mks)
FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 11
 (ii) Making each of the two slits wider but keeping the slit separation
constant (2mks)

WAVE CALCULATION
7. A source generates 40 waves in a second. If the wavelength is 8.5 cm. Calculate
the time taken to reach a wall 102m from the source.

8. Five successive wave-fronts in a ripple tank are observed to spread a distance of

6.4 cm. If the vibrator has a frequency of 8 Hz, determine the speed of the
waves.
(2mk)
9. Water waves pass a point in a swimming pool at the rate of 30 crests per 60
seconds. One of the crests was observed to take 2 seconds to travel between 2
points, 6m apart. Determine the wavelength of the water waves. (2mk)

10. The figure below is a sketch of ripples caused by a vibrator in a ripple tank whose
frequency is 50Hz.determine the speed of the wave motion.(3 mks)

24 cm

11. Figure shows plane wave fronts produced in a ripple tank

A 15cm B
Given that the distance between A and B is 15 cm, determine the wavelength of
the wav E (2mk)

12. Water waves are observed to pass a fixed point at a rate of 60 crests per minute.
A wave crest takes 4.0 seconds to travel between two fixed points 12.0 m apart.
Determine:
i) The velocity ,v, of the waves. (3mk)
ii) The wavelength, A of the waves. (3mk)

13. A Wave travels from deep to shallow as shown below. The velocity in deep
water is 12 cm/s and the wave length of the wave is 3 cm.

14. A tube of length 36cm is closed at one end. It is resonance with a tuning fork of
frequency
256Hz sounded above the open end. Given that the velocity of sound in air is
334m/s determine.
i) The wavelength of the wave generated by the tuning fork (2mks)

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 12
 ii) The end correction of the tube (2mks)
15. A vibrating turning fork of frequency 312Hz is held over the top of a tube full of
water, as shown in figure 9. The water is then allowed to flow slowly from the
tube and there is a first loud resonance when the air column is 245mm long

245mm

a) Determine
i) The wavelength in air of the note from the tuning fork(2mks)
ii) The speed of sound in air (3mks)
ii) Why is the loudness of the note heard much less when the length of
the air column is less than 245mm (1mk)

16. A vibrating turning fork is held over a long tube open at both ends as shown
below

By varying the length of air column, L, the first two positions of resonance are
found to be 30 cm and 96cm respectively. If the frequency of the fork is 283.3
HΖ , calculate the velocity of sound waves. (3mk)

17. A tuning fork of frequency 440HZ is used to produce resonance in a closed tube.
A fundamental note is produced when the length of the tube is 18.8 cm. First
overtone is produced when the length of the tube is 57.6 cm. Calculate the
velocity of sound in air using the information provided. (3mk)

18. The table shows the frequency – squared f of the fundamental note produced
by a stretched string for various tensions, T

T(N) 8 18 32 50 72 98
F (Hz )
2 2
14,500 32,500 57,500 90,000 129,500 176,500

(i) Plot a graph of f2 against the tension T.

(ii) Determine the gradient of the graph and hence obtain an equation relating
the frequency f and the tension T.

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 13
19. An experiment is done to determine the speed of sound in air using a resonance
tube and a tuning fork of known frequency held over the open end of the tube
filled with water. The level of water is gradually lowered until resonance is
obtained. The procedure is repeated using tuning forks of various frequencies.
The results are as shown in table below.

Resonance frequency f 512 480 426.6 384 320

(Hz)
Length of air column 16.0 17.5 20.3 22.0 26.5
L(x 10-2m)
Reciprocal of frequency
1
f x 10-3 s

(a) Complete the tab le by filling reciprocals of resonance frequency (2mk)

1
(b) (i) On the grid provided, plot a graph of length L (cm) versus f (5mk)
(ii) Use the graph to determine the speed of sound in air (2mks)

SCHEEM
1. Sounds are much clearer at night than during daytime. Explain this phenomenon
(3mk)
- Due to refraction
- During the day refraction is upwards due to high density up.
- At night, refraction is downwards due to low density up.
2. State one difference between Stationary waves and progressive waves (1mk)
ANS: Stationary waves do not transfer energy from one point to
another. Progressive waves transfer energy from one point to
another1
3. State three conditions necessary for the formation of stationary waves by two
progressive waves traveling in opposite direction. (3mks)
ANS -Must have the same speed,
-Must have same frequency;
-Same or nearly equal amplitude

4. State five properties of stationary/ standing waves. (5mk)

ANS -A stationary wave is produced by superposition of two waves when traveling
wave is reflected back a long its original path; (1 mk)
-Has nodes at points of zero displacement and Antinodes at points of maximum
displacement; (1mk)
-Vibrations of particles at points between successive nodes are in phase;(1mk)
-Amplitudes of particles between successive nodes is different;
-The distance between successive nodes or antinodes is (a half the
wavelength);
5. State the necessary conditions for stationary waves to be generated (2mk)
ANS -Two progressive waves must have the same speed
-Have same frequency
9. What condition is necessary for a wave incident on a slit to be diffracted? (1mk)
ANS The width of the aperture / slit should be approximately / nearly equal to the
wavelength of the wave;

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 14
10. Explain the meaning of coherent source of wave. (1mk)
Ans coherent source produces waves of the same frequency and same
amplitudes
11. State the conditions for diffraction of light to occur.
ANS: The width of the slit should be very small in the order of the
Wavelength
12. In the space below sketch the interference pattern observed if white light was
used instead of monochromatic light (1mk)
R O Y G B I V
Explain the variation of frequency across the pattern in b(iii) above. (1mk)
ANS Frequency increases from Red towards1 Violet
13. State the conditions for diffraction of light to occur.
ANS: The width of the slit should be very small in the order of the wavelength
14. State and explain what would happen on the screen if the slits S 1 and S2 were
made larger
ANS: The fringes produced would not be clearer ~ because of the larger wave
fronts produced.
15. Slit separation d btn the slits is reduced. (1mk)
ANS The fringes will be more pronounced (1mk) as the slit separation get
close to the wavelength
16. State and explain what would happen on the screen if the two slits are made
wider but keeping the slit separation constant (2mks)
ANS The fringes will not be clear as the hole size gets closer to the
wavelength
17. Give an expression for the wavelength λ of light in terms of d,x and y (1mk)
dy
ANS λ=
x
18. Five successive wave-fronts in a ripple tank are observed to spread a distance of
6.4 cm. If the vibrator has a frequency of 8 Hz, determine the speed of the waves.
(2 marks)
0 . 064 m
v = f x λ ⇒ v=8 x
ANS 5
v = 0.1024 m s-1
19. In Young’s double slit experiment, mercury green light of wavelength
5.4 x 10-7M was used with a pair of parallel slits of separation of 0.60 mm.
The fringes were observed at a distance of 40.0 cm from the slits.
Calculate the fringe separation (3mk)
ANS: y = D1
S
= 5.4 x 10 -7 x 0.41
0.6 x 10 -3
= 3.6 x 10-4 m1

FORM 3 : W A V E S II Pg 15