General Properties of WavesCopy
1. A transverse wave is travelling on a string. Which statement best describes the particle motion of the medium?
A) Parallel to the wave direction
B) Perpendicular to the wave direction
C) Circular around the wavefront
D) Opposite to the wave direction
2. A sound wave cannot travel through:
A) Air
B) Steel
C) Water
D) Vacuum
3. Which of the following best distinguishes longitudinal waves from transverse waves?
A) Ability to travel through vacuum
B) Speed of propagation
C) Particle oscillation relative to wave direction
D) Frequency range
4. Which is the correct unit of wave frequency?
A) m/s
B) Hz
C) s
D) Nm
5. The period of a wave is defined as:
A) The number of waves passing per second
B) The time between successive crests
C) The distance between two adjacent troughs
D) The amplitude of the wave
6. If the frequency of a wave doubles, and the speed remains constant, its wavelength:
A) Doubles
B) Halves
C) Remains the same
D) Becomes zero
7. Which type of wave is light?
A) Transverse
B) Longitudinal
C) Stationary
D) Mechanical
8. Which one of the following waves requires a medium?
A) Gamma rays
B) Radio waves
C) Sound waves
D) X-rays
9. The speed of a wave is given by:
A) λ × f
B) f / λ
C) 1 / (λ × f)
D) f² × λ
10. When a wave enters a denser medium, what generally happens?
A) Frequency increases
B) Speed increases
C) Wavelength decreases
D) Amplitude increases
11. Which of the following is not a property of waves?
A) Refraction
B) Diffraction
C) Polarisation
D) Conduction
12. Which wave phenomenon proves that waves carry energy but not matter?
A) Reflection
B) Interference
C) Diffraction
D) The fact that particles of the medium return to original positions
13. In which of the following is the wave speed highest?
A) Air
B) Water
C) Vacuum
D) Steel
14. A ripple tank demonstrates which wave property most effectively?
A) Refraction
B) Polarisation
C) Diffraction
D) Emission spectra
15. A progressive wave transmits:
A) Mass
B) Only energy
C) Energy and mass
D) Charge
16. The direction of energy flow in a transverse wave is:
A) Along the particle oscillation
B) Perpendicular to the particle oscillation
C) Opposite to wave motion
D) Circular
17. Which wave property allows radio waves to bend around buildings?
A) Reflection
B) Diffraction
C) Refraction
D) Polarisation
18. A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 0.2 m. What is its speed?
A) 10 m/s
B) 25 m/s
C) 100 m/s
D) 0.004 m/s
19. What does the amplitude of a wave determine?
A) Speed
B) Frequency
C) Energy
D) Wavelength
20. Two waves meet in phase. What occurs?
A) Destructive interference
B) Reflection
C) Constructive interference
D) Diffraction
21. A longitudinal wave on a spring shows:
A) Peaks and troughs
B) Crests only
C) Compressions and rarefactions
D) Static fields
22. Which of the following is the best example of diffraction?
A) A sound wave echoing
B) A light beam bending through glass
C) Water waves spreading after passing through a gap
D) A vibrating tuning fork producing a hum
23. The term ‘wavefront’ refers to:
A) The crest only
B) The point of maximum amplitude
C) A line joining points of equal phase
D) The base of the wave
24. Which property remains constant when a wave passes from air to water?
A) Speed
B) Frequency
C) Wavelength
D) Amplitude
25. What is the wavelength if a wave has speed 300 m/s and frequency 100 Hz?
A) 3 m
B) 0.33 m
C) 30 m
D) 30000 m
26. Which wave property is used in ultrasound imaging?
A) Refraction
B) Reflection
C) Diffraction
D) Interference
27. Why can we hear around corners but not see?
A) Light is transverse and doesn’t diffract easily
B) Sound travels faster than light
C) Sound doesn’t require a medium
D) Light can’t reflect
28. The best evidence that water waves are transverse is:
A) They reflect
B) Water particles move up and down
C) They require a medium
D) They travel in straight lines
29. Which pair correctly matches the wave with its nature?
A) Sound – Transverse
B) Light – Longitudinal
C) Water – Longitudinal
D) Radio – Transverse
30. Which of the following statements is true for all waves?
A) They travel in a vacuum
B) They require a medium
C) They transfer energy
D) They reflect only off smooth surfaces
31. What is the main cause of a decrease in wave amplitude?
A) Wavelength shortening
B) Damping
C) Diffraction
D) Refraction
32. A wave slows down but its frequency stays constant. What changes?
A) Its amplitude
B) Its phase
C) Its wavelength
D) Its period
33. The distance between two compressions in a sound wave is:
A) Frequency
B) Amplitude
C) One wavelength
D) Period
34. A wave completes 10 oscillations in 2 seconds. What is its frequency?
A) 5 Hz
B) 0.2 Hz
C) 20 Hz
D) 10 Hz
35. Why do water waves spread after passing through a narrow gap?
A) Interference
B) Diffraction
C) Polarisation
D) Reflection
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Physics Full Scale Course
Marking Key with Explanations
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Physics Full Scale Course
1. Correct: B
Transverse waves oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.
A – Longitudinal; C – Circular motion is for surface waves; D – Incorrect for transverse.
2. Correct: D
Sound is a mechanical wave and requires particles to propagate. No particles exist in a vacuum.
A, B, C – All are mediums with particles.
3. Correct: C
Longitudinal waves oscillate parallel to wave motion; transverse – perpendicular.
A – Both may or may not travel in vacuum; B – Speed depends on medium; D – Not definitive.
4. Correct: B
Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz) = cycles per second.
A – Speed; C – Time; D – Force × distance.
5. Correct: B
Period is the time for one full wave cycle – i.e., crest to next crest.
A – Frequency; C – Wavelength; D – Unrelated.
6. Correct: B
If speed remains constant, doubling frequency halves wavelength (v = fλ).
A – Opposite; C – Only if frequency constant; D – Physically impossible.
7. Correct: A
Light is a transverse electromagnetic wave.
B – Sound; C – Not a type; D – Not applicable.
8. Correct: C
Sound needs a medium; radio, gamma, X-rays don’t.
A, B, D – All electromagnetic waves that can travel in vacuum.
9. Correct: A
Wave speed = frequency × wavelength.
B, C, D – Incorrect derivations.
10. Correct: C
Wavelength decreases in denser media, while frequency stays same.
A – Frequency constant; B – Speed may decrease; D – Amplitude depends on energy loss.
11. Correct: D
Conduction relates to heat, not a wave property.
A – Bending; B – Spreading; C – Specific to transverse waves like light.
12. Correct: D
Particles return to original position shows no net displacement, only energy transfer.
A–C: Don’t directly show this.
13. Correct: D
Waves travel fastest in solids like steel due to close particle spacing.
A, B – Slower; C – Only for light, not all waves.
14. Correct: C
Ripple tanks show diffraction well – wave spreading through gaps.
A – Needs refraction tank; B – Not observable; D – Irrelevant.
15. Correct: B
Waves transfer energy only, not matter.
A, C – False; D – Irrelevant.
16. Correct: B
In transverse waves, oscillation is perpendicular to energy flow.
A – Longitudinal; C – Incorrect; D – Surface waves only.
17. Correct: B
Diffraction allows waves to bend around obstacles.
A – Reflection; C – Through different media; D – Only for transverse waves.
18. Correct: C
v = fλ = 50 × 0.2 = 10 m/s
A – Too low; B – Incorrect; D – Far off.
19. Correct: C
Energy carried ∝ amplitude².
A – Speed unrelated; B – Frequency ≠ amplitude; D – Wavelength ≠ amplitude.
20. Correct: C
In-phase waves add up = constructive interference.
A – Opposite phase; B – Bounce; D – Spreading.
21. Correct: C
Longitudinal waves show compressions and rarefactions.
A, B – Transverse traits; D – Irrelevant.
22. Correct: C
Water waves spreading through gaps is classic diffraction.
A – Reflection; B – Refraction; D – Not demonstration.
23. Correct: C
A wavefront connects points in phase.
A – Only peak; B – Amplitude; D – Not defined.
24. Correct: B
Frequency stays constant when entering new medium; speed & λ may change.
A, C, D – All can vary.
25. Correct: A
v = fλ → λ = v/f = 300/100 = 3 m
Others – Miscalculated.
26. Correct: B
Ultrasound uses reflection at tissue boundaries.
A – Refracted slightly; C – Not used; D – Not applicable.
27. Correct: A
Sound (longitudinal) diffracts more than light (transverse), enabling hearing around corners.
B – False; C – Sound needs medium; D – Light does reflect.
28. Correct: B
Water particles in transverse waves move up & down, confirming transverse nature.
A, C – Not proof; D – All waves can.
29. Correct: D
Radio = transverse EM wave.
A – False; B – Incorrect; C – Water = surface/transverse.
30. Correct: C
All waves transfer energy.
A – Only EM; B – Not all; D – Not a defining trait.
31. Correct: B
Damping = reduction in amplitude over time due to energy loss.
A – Unrelated; C – Spreading not loss; D – Bending.
32. Correct: C
If v decreases and f constant → λ = v/f decreases.
Others – Unrelated or constant.
33. Correct: C
From one compression to next = 1 wavelength.
A – Rate; B – Height; D – Time.
34. Correct: A
f = no. of oscillations / time = 10/2 = 5 Hz
Others – Incorrect math.
35. Correct: B
Diffraction = wave spreading after passing through gap.
Others – Misinterpretation.
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Physics Full Scale Course