Edexcel International A Level Physics

Topic Questions

Interference & Stationary Waves

1
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1 mark

A student investigates how different variables affect the speed of waves on a vibrating string.

Which of the following would increase the speed of waves along the string?

  • increasing the frequency

  • increasing the length of the string

  • increasing the mass per unit length of the string

  • increasing the tension in the string

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A microwave oven has a source that emits microwaves in all directions into the oven.

The diagram shows the paths of two microwave rays that meet at point straight L as shown.

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The interference between the waves following these two paths could cause heating effects at straight L depending on the wavelength of the microwaves.

Which row of the table is possible at point straight L?

      Heating effect at L Wavelength/ cm
  A maximum heating 24
  B maximum heating 18
  C no heating 24
  D no heating 18

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The speed of waves on a vibrating string is investigated using the apparatus shown.

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length of string between vibrator and pulley = L
length of string between pulley and hanging masses = L over 3

mass of whole string = m
mass of hanging masses = M

Which of the following expressions represents the speed of the waves on the string?

  • square root of open parentheses fraction numerator 4 M g L over denominator 3 m end fraction close parentheses end root

  • square root of open parentheses fraction numerator 2 M g L over denominator 3 m end fraction close parentheses end root

  • square root of open parentheses fraction numerator M g L over denominator m end fraction close parentheses end root

  • square root of open parentheses fraction numerator M g L over denominator 3 m end fraction close parentheses end root

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2
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Two waves leave the same source in phase. The waves travel along different paths and then meet. The wavelength of the waves is 8.0 cm.

Which of the following would cause constructive interference when the waves meet?

  • path difference of 16.0 cm

  • path difference of fraction numerator 3 lambda over denominator 2 end fraction

  • phase difference of 180°

  • phase difference of 3π radians

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3
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The diagram shows how the displacement varies with distance along a stationary wave at two instants of time.

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Which of the following statements is correct?

  • Points W and X are in antiphase.

  • Points W and Y are in phase.

  • Points X and Y are in phase.

  • Points X and Z are in antiphase.

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4
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Two waves with wavelength λ are produced by the same source. The waves travel different distances and then meet.

At the point where they meet, the path difference between the two waves is lambda over 8.

Which of the following is the phase difference, in radians, between the two waves?

  • pi over 2

  • straight pi over 4

  • pi over 8

  • pi over 16

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