Waves

Draw a ray diagram to show the path of a ray of light entering a rectangular glass block from air at an angle. Show the angles of incidence and refraction.

The angle of incidence is measured as 45° and the angle of refraction is 28°. Calculate the refractive index of the glass.

Describe how the speed of sound in air can be measured in a school lab, using the reflection of sound. Name the piece of equipment you could use to display a sound wave.

Explain why total internal reflection occurs inside an optical fibre and draw a labelled diagram to illustrate it.

State one medical and one communication use of optical fibres.

A certain type of glass has a refractive index of 1.56. Calculate its critical angle for total internal reflection.

Complete the ray diagram below for a ray passing from air into a glass block and emerging on the other side. Draw the path through the block, marking the normals, angles of incidence and refraction.

A ship uses echo sounding (sonar) to measure ocean depth. If the sound pulse returns after 3.0 s and the speed of sound in seawater is 1500 m/s, calculate the depth of the ocean.

Compare the laws of reflection for light and sound. Give one difference in how each wave behaves when it meets a surface.

State whether light and sound are transverse or longitudinal waves respectively. Give one piece of evidence for your answer in each case.

A sound wave has a frequency of 440 Hz and travels at 340 m/s in air. Calculate its wavelength.

State the range of frequencies the average person can hear. Describe how loudness and pitch are represented on an oscilloscope trace of a sound wave.

Describe and explain what happens to a ray of light inside a prism when it strikes the surface at an angle greater than the critical angle. Draw a labelled diagram to support your answer.

Calculate the angle of refraction if a ray of light enters glass from air at 35° and the refractive index of glass is 1.52.

Binoculars use prisms for total internal reflection, but sound waves cannot be 'bent' this way. Suggest one reason for this difference.

Describe how energy is transferred by waves in the ripple tank. State whether matter is transferred.

Radio and water waves are types of waves. State one similarity and one difference between these two types of waves.

Radio waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Name one use of radio waves, and explain why they are suitable for this use.

Calculate the refractive index of the glass to 2 decimal places.

Explain what happens to the direction of the light as it enters and leaves the glass block.

State the difference between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave. Give one example of each type from the student’s investigation or from the electromagnetic spectrum.

Identify one quantity and its unit that the student would measure when describing any wave in the lab.

Describe what is meant by a wavefront, using the slinky or water surface as examples.

Draw a labelled diagram to show the reflection of the sound wave from the wall. Label the incident wave, reflected wave, the wall, normal, and angles of incidence and reflection.

If the wavelength of the sound is 0.85 m, calculate the frequency of the wave.

Describe what would happen if the sound wave moved from warm air into cooler air.

Explain why the prism produces a spectrum of colours from white light.

Put the following colours in order from longest to shortest wavelength: green, red, violet, yellow.

State whether red or violet light is refracted most by the prism and explain your answer.