Waves: past paper questions

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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 24Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The graph shows the variation of the displacement with distance for a progressive wave at one instant in time. The period of the wave is $91\text{ms}$. What can be determined about the wave?

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• Question 20Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Two waves pass through a point P. The graph shows the variation with time $t$ of the displacement $s$ of the two waves at point P. What is the phase difference between the two waves at point P?

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• Question 24May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A train is travelling with a constant velocity. It operates its whistle as it moves directly towards a student. The whistle emits a continuous sound of constant frequency.

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• Question 25Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple 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 25Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which group of electromagnetic waves is arranged in order from shortest wavelength to longest wavelength?

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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 25May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  An electromagnetic wave in free space has a wavelength of $0.1\text{ nm}$. In which principal region of the electromagnetic spectrum does this wave lie?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Two polarising filters are placed next to each other so that their planes are parallel. The first polarising filter has its transmission axis at an angle of ${50}^{\circ }$ to the vertical.

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• Question 22Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A toy drone emits a sound of constant frequency $800\text{ Hz}$. The speed of the sound in the air is $330{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$. The drone moves along a straight path directly towards an observer and then continues in a straight line directly away from the observer.

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  A dolphin is swimming at a speed of $16.0{\text{ ms}}^{-1}$ directly towards a stationary underwater microphone. The dolphin emits a sound of frequency $122\text{ kHz}$. The speed of sound in water is $1480{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$.

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• Question 28Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Waves P and Q have the same amplitude. The waves meet in phase at point X and interfere to give a resultant wave with intensity $I$.

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• Question 23Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is correct?

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• Question 22May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  What is the order of these principal regions of the electromagnetic spectrum from shortest to longest wavelength?

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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 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 24Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Vertically polarised microwaves are emitted from a source. The microwaves are detected by a receiver that is connected to a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO). The waveform displayed on the screen of the CRO has an amplitude of $2.6\text{ cm}$.

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• Question 23May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The graph shows the displacement of each particle in a transverse wave against distance at one instant in time. The speed of the wave is $1.6{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$. What is the frequency of the wave?

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• Question 25Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  What is the phase difference between points P and Q on the progressive wave shown in the diagram?

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• Question 20Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  X and Y are two points on the surface of water in a ripple tank.

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• Question 24May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The siren on an emergency vehicle emits a sound of constant frequency $1100\text{ Hz}$. The driver in a stationary car hears the sound at a frequency of $1000\text{ Hz}$. The speed of sound in air is $340{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$.

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The graph shows the variation of displacement with distance for two progressive waves X and Y of the same type in the same medium. The intensity of wave X is $I$. What is the intensity of wave Y?

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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 21Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A transverse wave on a rope has wavelength $\lambda$ and period $T$. The graph shows the variation of the displacement of the particles of the rope with distance in the direction of travel of the wave at time $t=0$. A particle X is labelled.

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• Question 25Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An electromagnetic wave in free space has a frequency of $3.0\times {10}^{16}\text{ Hz}$. Which row gives the principal region of this wave and an example of an electromagnetic wave with a lower frequency?

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

  Which statement about waves is correct?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A source of sound emits waves of a constant frequency. The source moves at a constant speed in a straight line relative to a stationary observer. Which velocity of the source gives the smallest observed frequency?

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• Question 23Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A student is investigating two electromagnetic waves, X and Y, in a vacuum. Wave X has a wavelength of $5.2\times {10}^{-7}\text{ m}$. Wave Y has a frequency of $9.4\text{ GHz}$.

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• Question 24May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A loudspeaker moves with a constant speed relative to a stationary observer. The loudspeaker emits a sound of constant frequency. The frequency of sound observed depends on the speed and the direction of motion of the loudspeaker.

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What could describe the time-base of a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO)?

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