6.1 Transverse and longitudinal waves
9 exam questions worth 18 marks. Write your answer, open the mark scheme, then give yourself the marks you earned. Your answers are saved on this device.
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Which type of wave is a sound wave?
Choose one answer.
Correct Not quite: the answer is Longitudinal
Mark scheme
B: Longitudinal
Model answer
Longitudinal (B).
Which of these is a transverse wave?
Choose one answer.
Correct Not quite: the answer is Light
Mark scheme
C: Light
Model answer
Light (C).
State what is transferred from place to place by a wave.
Mark scheme
energy (and information)
Model answer
Energy (and information).
Describe the difference between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.
Mark scheme
in a transverse wave the oscillations are at right angles to the direction of energy transfer (1); in a longitudinal wave the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer (1); longitudinal waves have compressions and rarefactions, transverse waves have crests and troughs (1)
Model answer
In a transverse wave, the oscillations are at right angles to the direction of travel. In a longitudinal wave, they are parallel to the direction of travel, forming compressions and rarefactions.
A cork floats on the surface of a pond. Describe what happens to the cork when a water wave passes, and explain what this shows about waves.
Mark scheme
the cork moves up and down (1); but does not move along with the wave (1); so waves transfer energy but not matter (1)
Model answer
The cork moves up and down in the same place and does not travel with the wave. This shows that waves transfer energy but not matter.
Describe how you could use a slinky spring to show a longitudinal wave.
Mark scheme
push and pull the end of the spring along its length (1); compressions and rarefactions travel along the spring (1)
Model answer
Push and pull one end of a stretched slinky along its length. Compressions and rarefactions then travel along the spring.
Explain why sound cannot travel through a vacuum but light can.
Mark scheme
sound is a mechanical wave that needs particles / a medium to pass on the vibrations (1); there are no particles in a vacuum (1); light is an electromagnetic wave which does not need a medium / is vibrations of electric and magnetic fields (1)
Model answer
Sound needs particles to pass on the vibration, and there are none in a vacuum. Light is an electromagnetic wave and does not need a medium.
State the name of the regions of a longitudinal wave where the particles are (a) closest together and (b) furthest apart.
Mark scheme
(a) compressions (1); (b) rarefactions (1)
Model answer
(a) Compressions. (b) Rarefactions.
A student says that when a sound wave travels from a loudspeaker to her ear, air particles move all the way from the loudspeaker to her ear. Explain why she is wrong.
Mark scheme
the particles only vibrate backwards and forwards about a fixed position (1); the energy is transferred, not the air itself (1)
Model answer
The air particles only vibrate back and forth about a fixed position. It is the energy of the vibrations that is passed along, not the air.
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