0%

SL - Wave Behaviour

25 MCQ from 2025 Question Bank Wave Behaviour (all topics)

DP IB SL Physics Quiz

1 / 25

1. A mass  hangs in equilibrium on a spring. The mass is pulled down 10  below the equilibrium position and released. It oscillates vertically about the equilibrium position, performing simple harmonic motion.

If it takes 0.5  after release to return to its equilibrium position, which of the following is true for its first oscillation?

 Amplitude (cm)  Frequency (Hz)
 A. 10 2
 B. 20 0.5
 C. 10 0.5
 D. 20 2

2 / 25

2. For a wave traveling in a medium, the variation of the particles' displacement with distance travelled is shown in the following graphs, which represent the wave at different moments in time of a wave travelling to the right.

Graph I shows the wave at t=0 s, while graph II is at t=1s.

The time difference between the two graphs is less than the wave's period.

Graph I

PH0373

Graph II

PH0373-1

 

What is the wave speed?

3 / 25

3.

PH0151

Two sources  and  produce waves of amplitude , and period T on the surface of a swimming pool as shown. The wave generator  is turned on at time , and  at time t=T/2. Both generators create a crest when first turned on. The wavefronts shown in the illustration are one wavelength apart each. Determine the amplitude of the oscillation of the medium at point .

4 / 25

4. A mass-spring system executes simple harmonic motion with a period  in a vertical plane. What is the period when the oscillating mass is doubled and the system is brought to a planet where the gravitational field strength at the surface is halved?

 

5 / 25

5. A  string that is fixed at both ends produces a standing wave in the third harmonic. The speed of the wave on the string is 200 m s^−1

What is the frequency of oscillation?

6 / 25

6. Two water waves with the same amplitude are traveling towards each other. The water level against the position graph of a water wave is shown below. The equilibrium water level is .

PH0101

What are the maximum and minimum water levels when the two waves overlap?

 Maximum water level  Minimum water level
 A. 14cm 6cm
 B. 9 cm 6 cm
 C. 14 cm 1 cm
 D. 9 cm 1 cm

7 / 25

7. Incident light of wavelength  is emitted towards two slits separated by . The interference pattern is observed on a wall. The distance between two adjacent maxima is . What is the distance of the wall from the slits?

8 / 25

8. A traveling wave is generated on a string tied to a speaker as shown.

PH0449

Which of the following statements are correct about the travelling wave?

  • I. If the frequency of the sound decreases, the wavelength of the travelling wave increases.
    II. If the speaker emits a louder sound the amplitude of the travelling wave increases.
    III. If the frequency of the sound increases, the travelling wave moves along the string faster.

9 / 25

9. The graph shows the variation with time  of the displacement s of an object suspended by a spring. At what time is the acceleration in the negative direction at a maximum??

10 / 25

10. An object executes simple harmonic motion with an amplitude of x0. Which graph shows the relationship between the kinetic energy  and the displacement  from the equilibrium position of the object?

A. B.
PH0167A PH0167B
C. D.
PH0167C PH0167D

11 / 25

11. A fire truck’s siren emits a frequency of . Starting from rest, it moves with constant acceleration and passes a stationary observer at t=to. Which graph shows the variation of observed frequency f by the stationary observer with time?

A. B.
PH0066A PH0066B
C. D.
PH0066C PH0066D

12 / 25

12. A particle undergoes simple harmonic motion. Which of the following can be an expression of acceleration a in terms of displacement  and a constant value k?

13 / 25

13. A train is traveling at towards a stationary observer. It sounds a horn of frequency .

Which of the following statements is true about the observed frequency compared with the emitted frequency as the train approaches?

Observed frequency compared to emitted frequency Change in observed frequency over time
A. Lower No change
B. Higher Increases
C. Lower Decreases
D. Higher No change

14 / 25

14. A geostationary satellite is used for TV broadcasting. It orbits so that its position remains fixed above a receiver on earth. It undergoes circular motion with a speed of  and the emitted frequency for a channel is f. Which of the following is correct?

15 / 25

15. A string fixed at both ends oscillates in a standing wave as shown with a wavelength of .

PH0399

What is the length of the string?

16 / 25

16. The diagram shows a beam of light passing from medium  to medium .

PH0451

If the angle of incidence of the light increases, which of the following changes can be implemented to keep the angle of refraction the same?

I. Medium X can be replaced with another medium which has a lower refractive index.
II. Medium X can be replaced with another medium which has a higher refractive index.
III. Medium Y can be replaced with another medium which has a higher refractive index.

17 / 25

17. A wave is incident on a boundary between two media,  and . The wave travels faster in medium  than in medium 

Which of the following diagrams shows a possible path for this wave?

A. B.
PH0295A PH0295B
C. D.
PH0295C PH0295D

18 / 25

18. A light ray is incident on a semicircular glass block from the air. The glass has a greater refractive index than air. Which diagram correctly represents a possible path of the light ray as it enters and leaves the block?

A. B.
PH0224A PH0224B
C. D.
PH0224C PH0224D

19 / 25

19. A body performs simple harmonic motion (shm). Which of the following could be the speed against the time graph for one period of motion?

A. B.
PH0223A PH0223B
C. D.
PH0223C PH0223D

20 / 25

20. A radio with a bright light is placed outside the doorway of long, dark room as shown. A student in a corner near the door can hear the sound of the radio while standing in the dark region of the room.

PH0208

Which property of waves correctly explains why light does not reach her while the sound does?

21 / 25

21. A traveling source produces sound waves nearby a child. The wavefronts of the sound waves and the position of a child are seen in the figure below.

PH0314-1

The frequency of the generated sound waves is f. Which of the following is correct for both the direction of motion of the source and the observed frequency of the sound waves by the child?

The direction of the motion Observed frequency
A. Toward the child Less than f
B. Toward the child More than f
C. Away from the child Less than f
D. Away from the child More than f

22 / 25

22. A particle performs simple harmonic motion with a frequency of . The distance traveled by the particle in one complete oscillation is . Which of the following graphs shows a correct variation of its position?

A. B.
PH0294A PH0294B
C. D.
PH0294C PH0294D

23 / 25

23. A wave travels on a rope as shown, where  is a point on the rope halfway between the equilibrium position and the maximum displacement.

PH0374

Which is correct about the direction and magnitude of the velocity of point  after half a period compared to the shown position?

 Direction  Magnitude
 A. Up Increases
 B. Up Same
 C. Down Decrease
 D. Down Same

24 / 25

24. Water drips onto a pond every 3.0 seconds. The speed of water waves in the pond has been measured to be 1.2m s^−1. What is the wavelength of the water waves generated because of the drops?

25 / 25

25. The bob on a conical pendulum is rotated at constant speed such that it describes a horizontal circle of diameter 15. A lamp is placed so that the shadow of the bob projected on a screen describes simple harmonic motion. What is the displacement of the shadow after the bob has traveled a total distance of 30 cm?

Your score is

0%