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5.1 Wave behaviour

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Question 13
H

A student uses a ripple tank to find the wavelength, frequency and speed of water waves.

She has this apparatus:

  • a ripple tank with a vibrating bar driven by a motor
  • a lamp that shines through the tank onto a sheet of white paper below it
  • a metre ruler
  • a stopwatch
  • a mobile phone with a camera

Describe how the student could use this apparatus to determine the wavelength, frequency and speed of the water waves.

In your answer, explain how she could make her measurements as accurate as possible.

[6]
Markscheme

5.1 Wave behaviour Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /5.1 Wave behaviour

52 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Physics 5.1 Wave behaviour, covering 5.1.1 Describing wave motion, 5.1.2 Wavelength and frequency, 5.1.3 Wave speed, frequency and wavelength, 5.1.4 Wave speed problems, 5.1.5 Transverse and longitudinal waves, 5.1.6 Sound waves crossing between media, 5.1.7 Reflection, transmission and absorption at interfaces, 5.1.8 Sound waves and vibrations in solids, 5.1.9 Frequency range and human hearing, 5.1.10 Modelling waves with water ripples and sound, and 5.1.11 Evidence that the wave travels, not the medium. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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