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Date November 2012 Marks available 3 Reference code 12N.2.SL.TZ0.6
Level Standard level Paper Paper 2 Time zone Time zone 0
Command term State Question number 6 Adapted from N/A

Question

This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about wave motion. Part 2 is about the melting of the Pobeda ice island.

Part 1 Wave motion

State what is meant by the terms ray and wavefront and state the relationship between them.

[3]
a.

The diagram shows three wavefronts, A, B and C, of a wave at a particular instant in time incident on a boundary between media X and Y. Wavefront B is also shown in medium Y.

(i) Draw a line to show wavefront C in medium Y.

(ii) The refractive index of X is nX and the refractive index of Y is nY. By making appropriate measurements, calculate nXnY.

[4]
b.

Describe the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal waves.

[2]
c.

The graph below shows the variation of the velocity v with time t for one oscillating particle of a medium.

(i) Calculate the frequency of oscillation of the particle.

(ii) Identify on the graph, with the letter M, a time at which the displacement of the particle is a maximum.

[3]
d.

Markscheme

ray: direction of wave travel / energy propagation;
wavefront: line that joins points with same phase/of same crest/trough;
ray normal/at right angles/perpendicular to wavefront;

a.

(i) line parallel to existing line in Y and continuous at boundary; (both needed)

(ii) measures “wavelength” correctly in media X and Y; } (by eye)
(look for ratio of 0.5: 1 in responses)
nXnY=λYλX;
0.5:1; (accept answers in the range of 0.47 to 0.53)

or

justification that angles needed for calculation are either pair of i and r as shown and angles measured correctly;
nXnY=sinrsini;
0.5:1;

b.

mention of perpendicular/right angle/90° angle for transverse and parallel for longitudinal;
clear comparison between direction of energy propagation and direction of vibration/oscillation of particles for both waves;

c.

(i) time period=6.0ms;
167Hz;

(ii) M where line crosses x-axis;

(iii) counts rectangles (14±2) to first peak;
one rectangle equivalent to 0.5 mm;
7.2 mm;

or

ω=(2πf=)330π;
a=(vw=)7.5330π;
7.2 mm;
Allow any valid algebraic method, eg v=ω(x02x2).

d.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.
[N/A]
d.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 4: Waves » 4.3 – Wave characteristics
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