Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Chapter
Units (Waves)
82 practice questions
Topics covered
Practice questions
31–40 of 42 · Normal
Question 31
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A ray of light passes from air (speed in air = m/s) into glass (speed in glass = m/s). Calculate the refractive index of glass to two significant figures.
Question 32
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student shines a ray of light at an angle on the surface of water in a tank. Some of the ray is reflected and some is refracted. The diagram shows the ray and the normal.
Light ray striking water surface Use the diagram to answer the following.
(a)[2 marks]Which ray shows reflection? Which shows refraction? Write their labels.
(b)[2 marks]Describe the difference between reflection and refraction using this example.
Question 33
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Describe an experiment a student could carry out to investigate the refraction of light as it passes from air into glass. Include the apparatus needed and the steps in the method.
Question 34
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →State what happens to the frequency of sound waves from a moving source as it moves towards a stationary observer. Explain your answer.
Question 35
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →The speed of sound in a material is 1500 m/s. Calculate the frequency of a sound wave in this material if its wavelength is 2.0 m. Give your answer to 2 significant figures.
Question 36
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A stationary ambulance is sounding its siren at a constant frequency. Describe and explain what happens to the pitch of the siren for an observer as the ambulance starts to move away from them.
Question 37
1 mark · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Which one of the following statements best describes the Doppler effect?
- A.The change in frequency of a wave observed when the source is moving relative to the observer.
- B.The reflection of waves from a hard surface.
- C.The bending of waves when they pass through a gap.
- D.The decrease in energy of a wave as it moves further from the source.
Question 38
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Explain why the frequency of a siren heard by a person changes when a fire engine moves past them at a constant speed.
Question 39
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student observes a train moving towards a platform while sounding its horn.
(a)[1 mark]Describe what happens to the frequency of the sound heard by a person standing on the platform as the train approaches.
(b)[2 marks]Explain your answer to part (a).
(c)[1 mark]What will happen to the frequency of the sound as the train passes and moves away from the platform?
Question 40
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Describe a simple experiment you could carry out to demonstrate the Doppler effect for sound. Explain what you would expect to observe.