Waves — IGCSE Physical Science (0652) questions by topic
Waves questions cover reading amplitude and wavelength from a displacement graph, identifying the frequency range audible to humans, describing sound as a longitudinal wave, and locating an image formed by a converging lens or mirror. State, identify, draw, find and describe are the command words, with find meaning read an accurate value directly off a graph or diagram.
12 real questions from 2023 papers sit on this page, worth between 1 and 10 marks. Reading a wave graph or ray diagram accurately is the whole task here, so submitting your answers for instant marking flags immediately whether you've measured from adjacent peaks rather than misleading x-axis crossings, or placed a construction line correctly.
What examiners look for
- Examiners repeatedly find wavelength harder than amplitude, especially when candidates measure from x-axis crossings instead of adjacent peaks, and answers naming sound or light for a wave that is explicitly on a rope.
- A further common mistake is giving reflection or diffraction where neither applies, forgetting to label the normal and incident ray even when the reflected angle is correct, and quoting other electromagnetic radiations such as gamma rays where they do not fit.
- Strong answers located the image at the intersection of construction lines, or otherwise knew the correct image position behind a mirror.
October–November 2023, Paper 21
The diagram shows an object in front of a converging lens. Each of the two points marked F is a principal focus (focal point) of the lens. The lens forms an image of the object.…
Answer this question and get it marked →Light from the Sun takes 8.3 minutes to reach the Earth through the vacuum of space. What is the distance between the Sun and the Earth? A 6.0 × 10⁵ m B 3.6 × 10⁷ m C 2.5 × 10⁹ m…
Answer this question and get it marked →What is the nature of a sound wave and in which direction do the particles vibrate in this type of wave? nature of sound wave direction of vibration of particles A longitudinal…
Answer this question and get it marked →A vibrating object produces waves of different frequencies in air. Which frequency is that of a sound wave that a human with normal hearing can hear? A 2.5 Hz B 1000 Hz C 25 000…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 22
The diagram shows an object in front of a converging lens. Each of the two points marked F is a principal focus (focal point) of the lens. The lens forms an image of the object.…
Answer this question and get it marked →Light from the Sun takes 8.3 minutes to reach the Earth through the vacuum of space. What is the distance between the Sun and the Earth? A 6.0 × 10⁵ m B 3.6 × 10⁷ m C 2.5 × 10⁹ m…
Answer this question and get it marked →What is the nature of a sound wave and in which direction do the particles vibrate in this type of wave? nature of sound wave direction of vibration of particles A longitudinal…
Answer this question and get it marked →A vibrating object produces waves of different frequencies in air. Which frequency is that of a sound wave that a human with normal hearing can hear? A 2.5 Hz B 1000 Hz C 25 000…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 31
Fig. 10.1 shows a graph of a wave on a rope at a point in time: displacement / cm (vertical axis, +6 to −6) against distance along rope / m (horizontal axis, 0 to 6.5). The wave…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 32
Fig. 10.1 shows a graph of a wave on a rope at a point in time: displacement / cm (vertical axis, +6 to −6) against distance along rope / m (horizontal axis, 0 to 6.5). The wave…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
A ray of light is incident on the surface of a plane mirror as shown in Fig. 4.1 (an incident ray strikes a horizontal mirror surface). On Fig. 4.1, draw and label: • the normal…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 42
A ray of light is incident on the surface of a plane mirror as shown in Fig. 4.1 (an incident ray strikes a horizontal mirror surface). On Fig. 4.1, draw and label: • the normal…
Answer this question and get it marked →