Sound: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

• Question 27May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The approximate range of audible frequencies for a sheep is $100\text{ Hz}$ to $30000\text{ Hz}$. Which statement is correct?

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• Question 18Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The sentences describe sound waves.

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

  Which waves are longitudinal?

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• Question 22Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which range of sound frequencies includes only frequencies of sound that can be heard by a healthy human ear?

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  All electromagnetic waves transfer energy. State two other properties that are the same for all electromagnetic waves.

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• Question 19Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row gives the velocity and wavelength of a wave that is an ultrasound wave?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  The loudspeaker shown in Fig. 6.1 produces a sound of frequency $800\text{ Hz}$. State what is meant by ‘frequency’.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured9 marks

  Ultrasound is a longitudinal wave which cannot be heard by humans as the frequency of ultrasound is too high. Ultrasound waves cannot travel in a vacuum. Explain why.

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• Question 24May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Sound travels at different speeds in different states of matter. Which list gives the three states of matter arranged in order of the speed of sound from slowest to fastest?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows the speed and the wavelength for different sound waves in four different materials.

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• Question 23May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Ultrasound is a type of sound wave that is not audible to a healthy human ear. Which range of frequencies contains only ultrasound?

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• Question 23May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The speed of sound in air is $330\text{ m/s}$. Which sound is classed as ultrasound?

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• Question 26May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What happens to a sound wave when the note heard gets louder?

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• Question 27May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which application is not a use for ultrasound?

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• Question 18May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The graph shows, at one instant, the pressure variation along a sound wave. Which point on the diagram represents a rarefaction and what is the wavelength of the sound wave?

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• Question 25May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Ultrasound is used to clean jewellery in a liquid. What is another use of ultrasound?

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• Question 27May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row describes ultrasound waves?

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A sound wave from a vibrating tuning fork is displayed on the oscilloscope shown in Fig. 4.1. The sound wave is detected using a microphone. Describe the motion of the air particles as the sound wave passes from the tuning fork to the microphone.

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