A vibration generator produces a short wave pulse at one end of a metal rod. The pulse travels along the rod to a sensor at the other end.
The table shows the displacement of one particle in the rod as the pulse passes. A positive parallel displacement is towards the sensor and a negative parallel displacement is away from the sensor.
| Stage | Displacement parallel to the rod in μm\mu\text{m}μm | Displacement perpendicular to the rod in μm\mu\text{m}μm |
|---|---|---|
| before the pulse arrives | 0 | 0 |
| first measurement | +2.0 | 0 |
| second measurement | 0 | 0 |
| third measurement | -2.0 | 0 |
| after the pulse has passed | 0 | 0 |
Explain what the measurements show about the type of wave in the rod, whether particles of the rod travel to the sensor, and how energy reaches the sensor.
112 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 4.1 Wave properties, covering 4.1.1 Waves transfer energy and information, 4.1.2 Frequency, wavelength, amplitude, period and wavefronts, 4.1.3 Longitudinal and transverse waves, 4.1.4 The wave speed equations, 4.1.5 Measuring wave velocity, and 4.1.6 Calculating depth or distance from waves. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.