Physics

Interference & Stationary Waves — Multiple-Choice Questions (Edexcel IAL Physics): Exam Questions

Exam code:YPH11

6 questions · 6 marks · ≈ 6 min

Guided practice

11 markeasy

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?

Choose your answer

increasing the frequency

increasing the length of the string

increasing the mass per unit length of the string

increasing the tension in the string

21 markmedium

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 = $\frac{L}{3}$

mass of whole string = $m$

mass of hanging masses = $M$

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

Choose your answer

$\sqrt{( \frac{4 M g L}{3 m} )}$

$\sqrt{( \frac{2 M g L}{3 m} )}$

$\sqrt{( \frac{M g L}{m} )}$

$\sqrt{( \frac{M g L}{3 m} )}$

31 markmedium

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?

Choose your answer

path difference of 16.0 cm

path difference of $\frac{3λ}{2}$

phase difference of 180°

phase difference of 3π radians

41 markmedium

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?

Choose your answer

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.

51 markmedium

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 $\frac{λ}{8}$ .

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

Choose your answer

$\frac{π}{2}$

$\frac{π}{4}$

$\frac{π}{8}$

$\frac{π}{16}$

61 markhard

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 $L$ as shown.

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

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

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

Choose your answer

Heating effect at L

Wavelength/ cm

maximum heating

no heating