Lesson 4.4.1

4.4.1 Wave motion Quiz: OCR Physics, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.4.1, Wave motion: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Physics (H156), Unit 3: Electrons, waves and photons, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. In a longitudinal wave, particle oscillations occur in which direction relative to energy transfer?

    • Perpendicular
    • In a circle
    • Parallel
    • At 45 degrees

  2. In a transverse wave, particle oscillations occur in which direction relative to energy transfer?

    • Parallel
    • Perpendicular
    • At 45 degrees
    • Antiparallel

  3. A wave has a period of 0.02 s. What is its frequency?

    • 2 Hz
    • 500 Hz
    • 50 Hz
    • 0.02 Hz

  4. Two points on a progressive wave separated by half a wavelength have a phase difference of:

    • pi/2 rad (90 degrees)
    • 2 pi rad (360 degrees)
    • pi rad (180 degrees)
    • 0 rad

  5. A wave of frequency 250 Hz has wavelength 1.4 m. What is its speed?

    • 250 m/s
    • 350 m/s
    • 0.0056 m/s
    • 178 m/s

  6. The unit of intensity of a progressive wave is:

    • W m^2
    • W m^-2
    • J m^-2 s
    • N m^-1

  7. If the amplitude of a progressive wave is doubled, by what factor does intensity increase?

    • Factor of 8
    • Factor of 2
    • Factor of 4
    • Factor of 16

  8. On an oscilloscope, the time base is 5 ms per division and one complete cycle spans 4 divisions. What is the frequency?

    • 200 Hz
    • 20 Hz
    • 0.02 Hz
    • 50 Hz

  9. The distance between two adjacent points that are in phase on a progressive wave is called the:

    • period
    • wavelength
    • amplitude
    • displacement

  10. According to the law of reflection, the angle of incidence equals what other angle?

    • Angle of reflection
    • Critical angle
    • Angle of refraction
    • Angle of diffraction

  11. Diffraction effects become most significant when gap width is comparable to what property?

    • Wavelength
    • Amplitude
    • Frequency
    • Wave speed

  12. Which type of progressive wave can undergo polarisation?

    • Transverse waves only
    • Sound waves only
    • Longitudinal waves only
    • All progressive waves

  13. When a wave refracts into a denser medium, which wave property remains unchanged?

    • Wavelength
    • Amplitude
    • Wave speed
    • Frequency

  14. Sound of wavelength 0.50 m travels at 340 m/s. What is its frequency?

    • 0.0015 Hz
    • 680 Hz
    • 170 Hz
    • 340 Hz

  15. A wave has wavelength 2.0 m and speed 8.0 m/s. What is its period?

    • 4.0 s
    • 0.50 s
    • 16 s
    • 0.25 s

  16. In a ripple tank, the dipper frequency is 10 Hz and the measured wavelength of the ripples is 2.0 cm. What is the wave speed?

    • 20 cm/s
    • 5 cm/s
    • 200 cm/s
    • 0.2 cm/s

  17. On a displacement-distance graph of a transverse wave, the distance between two adjacent crests is equal to the:

    • wavelength
    • phase difference
    • period
    • amplitude

  18. A progressive wave has intensity 4.0 W m^-2. If its amplitude is halved, what is the new intensity?

    • 8.0 W m^-2
    • 0.5 W m^-2
    • 1.0 W m^-2
    • 2.0 W m^-2

  19. A wave speed doubles when entering a new medium. What happens to its wavelength?

    • It halves
    • It doubles
    • It quadruples
    • It stays constant

  20. Two points on a progressive wave have a phase difference of 60 degrees. What fraction of a wavelength separates them?

    • 1/60
    • 1/6
    • 1/2
    • 1/3

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