Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Chapter
Properties of Waves
122 practice questions
Topics covered
Practice questions
51–59 of 59 · Easy
Question 51
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Complete the sentence: The Doppler effect applies to _______ types of waves.
Question 52
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Consider a moving car sounding its horn.
(a)[1 mark]Describe what happens to the spacing of the sound wavefronts in front of the moving car.
(b)[2 marks]Explain how the change in wavefront spacing affects the pitch (frequency) of the sound heard by an observer in front of the car.
Question 53
1 mark · Easy
Answer and check →Which effect will a stationary observer notice when a sound source moves away from them at high speed?
- A.The sound increases in frequency (higher pitch).
- B.The sound decreases in frequency (lower pitch).
- C.The sound remains at the same frequency.
- D.The sound waves are reflected back.
Question 54
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State whether the wavelength of waves increases or decreases in the direction a source is moving.
Question 55
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →The diagram below shows wavefronts produced by a stationary and a moving sound source.
Sound waves from stationary and moving sources (a)[1 mark]Identify which set of wavefronts shows the effect of movement.
(b)[2 marks]Explain how the spacing of these wavefronts demonstrates the Doppler effect.
Question 56
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Name one type of wave, other than sound, that can demonstrate the Doppler effect.
Question 57
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A bell is rung underwater, and the sound travels to a diver who is standing a certain distance away.
(a)[2 marks]State whether sound waves in water are longitudinal or transverse. Explain your answer.
(b)[2 marks]The sound wave in water has a frequency of 800 Hz and a wavelength of 1.9 m. Calculate the speed of sound in water using the wave equation.
Question 58
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A ripple tank is used to demonstrate water waves. The table below shows the number of waves passing a fixed point in different time intervals.
Number of waves observed in 10 s intervals. Interval (s) Number of waves 10 25 10 30 (a)[1 mark]Calculate the frequency of the waves in the first experiment (25 waves in 10 seconds).
(b)[1 mark]State the definition of frequency.
(c)[2 marks]If the wavelength of these water waves is measured to be 0.048 m, calculate the wave speed for the first experiment.
Question 59
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A train travels towards an observer while sounding its whistle. The observer notices the pitch of the sound is higher than when the train is stationary.
(a)[1 mark]What is the name given to this effect?
(b)[2 marks]Explain why the observer hears a higher pitch as the train approaches.
(c)[1 mark]State whether the wavelength of the sound increases or decreases for the observer as the train gets closer.