Transverse and longitudinal waves: past paper questions

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• Question 23May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about waves is correct?

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• Question 24Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row is correct for sound waves?

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Radio waves can be polarised, but sound waves cannot be polarised. Which statement gives the reason for this?

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• Question 21Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row is correct for both progressive transverse waves and progressive longitudinal waves?

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• Question 24Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row describes a progressive longitudinal wave?

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• Question 24Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A progressive longitudinal sound wave moves through air. The diagram shows the positions of the air particles along part of the wave at one instant.

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• Question 5May/June 2023, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A progressive wave travels through a medium. The wave causes a particle of the medium to vibrate along a line P. The energy of the wave propagates along a line Q. Compare the directions of lines P and Q if the wave is: a transverse wave

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• Question 25Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A source emits a progressive sound wave in the horizontal direction. The wave travels away from the source in a direction towards the right.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  With reference to the direction of transfer of energy, compare the oscillations of transverse and longitudinal progressive waves.

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• Question 25May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about longitudinal and transverse wave motion for a progressive wave is correct?

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• Question 28May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows the shape at one instant in time of part of a stretched string as a wave travels along it from left to right. What are the directions of the velocities of the points 1, 2 and 3 on the string at this instant in time?

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• Question 26May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a progressive transverse wave on a stretched string at one instant in time. One point on the string is labelled X. Which point on the string is ${270}^{\circ }$ out of phase with X? A B C D

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• Question 29May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which wave cannot be a longitudinal wave?

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• Question 25May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A sound wave travels from the left to the right. The graph shows the variation of the displacement to the right of particles in the sound wave with distance, at one instant. Which letter represents the centre of a compression?

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• Question 24May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Polarisation is associated with certain waves. Which waves cannot be polarised?

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• Question 28May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement compares the behaviour of transverse and longitudinal waves?

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• Question 24May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The graph shows the variation with distance along the wave of the displacement of water particles at a particular instant in time for a transverse water wave. P, Q and R show the positions of three water particles in the wave.

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• Question 25May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which phenomenon is only associated with transverse waves?

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• Question 4May/June 2024, paper 23Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A progressive transverse wave travelling from left to right is shown at an instant in time in Fig. 4.1. R and T are points on the wave. State the phase difference between the points R and T.

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• Question 5May/June 2025, paper 23Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  State why sound waves cannot be polarised.

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