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Date November 2012 Marks available 1 Reference code 12N.1.SL.TZ0.17
Level Standard level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 0
Command term Question number 17 Adapted from N/A

Question

Waves emitted from sources X and Y have equal wavelengths and are initially in phase. The waves interfere destructively at point P, where the path difference is 0.60m.

What is a possible value for the wavelength of the waves?

A. 0.20 m
B. 0.30 m
C. 0.40 m
D. 0.60 m

Markscheme

C

Examiners report

Candidates needed to recognise that the path difference needs to be equal to an odd number of half-wavelengths for destructive interference to happen. With a path difference of 0.60m this is true only for wavelength of 0.40m giving a half- wavelength of 0.20m and thus three half-wavelengths occurring.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 4: Waves » 4.3 – Wave characteristics
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