1.

The diagram shows an experiment with sound waves.

L o u d sp eak er
O s c illo s c o p e
M ic ro p h o n e
S ig n a l
g e n e ra to r

B ench

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A loudspeaker connected to a signal generator is mounted, pointing downwards, above a

horizontal bench. The sound is detected by a microphone connected to an oscilloscope. The
height of the trace on the oscilloscope is proportional to the amplitude of the sound waves at the
microphone.
When the vertical distance x between the microphone and the bench is varied, the amplitude of
the sound waves is found to vary as shown on the graph.
A m p litu d e /a rb itra ry u n its
16

12

12

16

20
x /c m

Explain why the amplitude of the sound has a number of maxima and minima.
You may be awarded a mark for the clarity of your answer.
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(5)

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The frequency of the sound waves is 3.20 kHz. Use this, together with information from the
graph, to determine a value for the speed of sound in air.
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Speed of sound = ............................................
(4)

The contrast between the maxima and minima becomes less pronounced as the microphone is
raised further from the surface of the bench. Suggest an explanation for this.
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(2)
(Total 11 marks)

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2.

Babies food sometimes carries the following warning: Do not warm feeds in a microwave
oven as this may cause uneven heating and could scald your babys mouth.
An Internet site gives the following explanation:
Coherent microwaves are emitted in all directions from a source within the oven.
The waves reflect off the metal walls so that the microwave radiation reaching
any particular point arrives from several different directions. The waves interfere
and set up standing waves. This produces the pattern of hot and cold zones
observed in food heated in a microwave oven.

"H ot zone"

" C o ld z o n e "

Explain the meanings of the following words from the passage.

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(1)

Standing wave
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(2)

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On the diagram above, mark a possible position of one antinode, and label it A.
(1)

The frequency of the radiation used in a microwave oven is 2.45 109 Hz.
Show that the wavelength of the microwave radiation is about 12 cm.
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(1)

The diagram shows two different paths by which microwaves can reach the point X.

M ic ro w a v e s o u rc e
2 0 .0 c m
1 0 .0 c m

1 4 .0 c m

2 2 .1 c m
N o t to s c a le

Find the path difference for waves reaching point X by the paths shown.
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Path difference =
(1)

Assuming waves do not reach point X along any other path, explain whether you would
expect this point to be a microwave node or antinode.

(3)

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St Mark's Catholic School

Some microwave ovens use two separate microwave frequencies to overcome the
problem of uneven heating. Explain how this helps.

(2)
(Total 11 marks)

3.

Describe with the aid of a diagram how you could produce stationary waves on a string.

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(3)

St Mark's Catholic School

Explain how you could use a stationary wave to determine the speed of travelling
waves on the string. You may be awarded a mark for the clarity of your answer.
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(4)
(Total 7 marks)

4.

A loudspeaker connected to a signal generator is set up facing a wall.

L oudspeaker
W a ll
S ig n a l
g e n e ra to r

Sound waves from the loudspeaker are reflected from the wall and a stationary wave is
produced in the region between the loudspeaker and the wall.

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(a)

(i)

Describe how you would use a small microphone, connected to a cathode

ray oscilloscope, to demonstrate the presence of the stationary wave.
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(2)

(ii)

Explain how the nodes and antinodes are produced.

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(3)

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(iii)

Outline how you would use this apparatus to obtain a value for the speed of
sound waves in air.
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(4)

(b)

(i)

In principle, stationary waves produced in this way could cause problems

for listeners in a concert hall. Explain why.
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(ii)

In practice, the problem is not serious. Suggest a reason why.

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10

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(2)
(Total 11 marks)

St Mark's Catholic School

11