| Date | November 2009 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 09N.1.HL.TZ0.15 |
| Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Question number | 15 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Diagram 1 represents equally spaced beads on a spring. The beads are 1 cm apart.
Diagram 1
A longitudinal wave propagates along the spring. Diagram 2 shows the position of the beads at a particular instant.
Diagram 2
Which of the following is the best estimate of the amplitude?
A. 0.4 cm
B. 0.8 cm
C. 1.6 cm
D. 3.2 cm
Markscheme
B
Examiners report
The responses to this question showed that students had not been carefully introduced to the physics of longitudinal waves and the meaning of their typical displacement-distance graph.
