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Radio waves are used for communications.

Waves - Properties of Waves 02

This GCSE Physics quiz explores properties of waves, helping you practise oscillations, wavelength, frequency and speed so you feel confident with wave questions in the exam.

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Fascinating Fact:

A wave is a vibration or oscillation that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter overall.

In GCSE Physics, you study waves as repeating patterns that move energy from one point to another. You learn how frequency, wavelength, amplitude and speed are measured and how they link through key equations used in exams and practical work.

Key Terms

Oscillation: A regular back-and-forth or up-and-down motion about a central, or rest, position.
Frequency: The number of complete waves passing a point each second, measured in hertz (Hz).
Period: The time taken for one complete wave to pass a point; it is the inverse of frequency.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is a wave in GCSE Physics?

In GCSE Physics, a wave is a repeating disturbance that carries energy through a medium or through space. The particles or fields vibrate about fixed positions instead of being carried along with the energy.

What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?

In transverse waves, the vibrations are at right angles to the direction of energy transfer, like waves on a string. In longitudinal waves, vibrations are parallel to the direction of travel, as in sound waves.

How are wavelength, frequency and wave speed related?

Wavelength, frequency and wave speed are linked by the equation wave speed = frequency × wavelength, where frequency is in hertz (Hz), wavelength in metres (m) and speed in metres per second (m/s).

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

What types of waves are used for communications?

Radio waves

Microwaves

Light waves

All of the above

Any electromagnetic wave can be used for communication as the wave can be manipulated to any given frequency or wavelength. The three listed above are the most common waves used for communications

2 .

What units is frequency measured in?

Hertz

Metres

Coulombs

Volts

A frequency of one hertz tells you that one cycle of a wave is passing a certain point in one second. Two hertz means two complete cycles pass in one second and so on

3 .

Which of the following is a characteristic of a longitudinal wave?

It contains areas of compression and rarefaction

It contains both electric and magnetic waves

It contains electric waves

It contains magnetic waves

A longitudinal wave will contain areas where the particles in the wave are pushed close together and areas where the particles are far apart

4 .

The period of a wave T = ¹⁄_f, if the time period for a wave of wavelength 500 mm is 0.5 seconds, at what speed is the wave travelling?

1 x 10¹⁰ m/s

0.25 m/s

0.5 m/s

1 m/s

Tricky on several levels. It is testing whether you are able to combine equations and work in different units to arrive at an answer in the correct SI format i.e. metres per second

5 .

Calculate the speed of a wave with a frequency of 3 Hz and a wavelength of 100 x 10^-9 m.

300 x 10^-9 m/s

33 x 10^-9 m/s

300 x 10^-8 m/s

300 x 10⁹ m/s

Straightforward substitution into the equation - you should have been able to do this without the need for a calculator

6 .

In addition to being reflected and refracted, how can waves also be manipulated?

Diffused

Diffracted

Heated

By freezing

You may have seen this demonstrated in the lab using a ripple tank

7 .

Calculate the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave that has a frequency of 10 kHz.

30 m

30 km

300 km

300 m

Electromagnetic waves have a speed of 300,000,000 m/s (3 x 10⁸ m/s) metres per second i.e. at the speed of light. Although you are not required to remember this number for the exam, knowing it can save you valuable time as you won't need to find it on the data sheet

8 .

What is the formula of the wave equation?

v=fλ

v=^λ⁄_f

v=^f⁄_λ

f=^λ⁄_v

ALL waves obey the wave equation

9 .

What are the SI units of wavelength?

Inches

Metres

Feet

Hertz

This is the correct unit to use, however it is acceptable at GCSE to use other units if they match the units that you are given in the question

10 .

Calculate the frequency of a wave with a speed of 3 x 10⁶ m/s and a wavelength of 1 x 10⁴ m.

30 Hz

300 Hz

3000 Hz

3 x 10¹⁰ Hz

This required you to divide the velocity by the wavelength

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Types of wave

Author: Martin Moore

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