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Waves and Wave Properties Practice Problems with Solutions - IGCSE Year 9

IGCSE Year 9 | Physics | Waves and Wave Properties
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________ Score: _______ / 40

Light in a vacuum travels at 3 × 10⁸ m/s and frequency is measured in hertz, so this Year 9 sheet opens with the fastest speed and the frequency unit. The answers combine them as v = f × λ and record sound as longitudinal.

Key Takeaways

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark Each)

Choose the correct option for each question.
1. What is the speed of light in a vacuum?
(a) 3 × 10⁸ m/s(b) 3 × 10⁶ m/s(c) 340 m/s(d) 1500 m/s
2. What is the unit of frequency?
(a) hertz(b) metre(c) joule(d) second
3. Which formula links wave speed, frequency and wavelength?
(a) v = f × λ(b) v = f ÷ λ(c) f = v × λ(d) v = λ ÷ f
4. Which of these is a transverse wave?
(a) light(b) sound(c) ultrasound(d) the pulse produced by pushing and pulling a slinky spring
5. What type of wave is sound?
(a) longitudinal(b) transverse(c) electromagnetic(d) stationary
6. What is the amplitude of a wave?
(a) the maximum displacement from the rest position(b) the distance between two crests(c) the number of waves per second(d) the time for one complete wave

Section B: Short Answer Type Questions (2 Marks Each)

Show all steps clearly.
7. Define wavelength and state its unit.
8. Define frequency and state its unit.
9. Define the period of a wave and state its unit.
10. State the wave equation and give the unit of each quantity.
11. Explain the difference between a transverse and a longitudinal wave.
12. What does a wave transfer from one place to another?
13. How is the period of a wave related to its frequency?
14. What is meant by the rest (equilibrium) position of a wave?

Section C: Numericals & Word Problems (3 Marks Each)

Apply the concepts to solve the problems. Show all working.
15. A wave has a wavelength of 2 m and a frequency of 5 Hz. Using v = f × λ, calculate the wave speed.
16. Sound in water travels at 1500 m/s with a frequency of 3000 Hz. Using λ = v ÷ f, calculate the wavelength.
17. A wave has a period of 0.25 s. Using f = 1 ÷ T, calculate its frequency.
18. Sound travels at 340 m/s and has a wavelength of 0.68 m. Using f = v ÷ λ, calculate the frequency.
19. A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and travels at a speed of 300 m/s. Using λ = v ÷ f, calculate the wavelength.
20. A wave travels 1200 m in 4 s with a frequency of 100 Hz. Calculate the wave speed and then use v = f × λ to find the wavelength.

Answer Key

1. a) 3 × 10⁸ m/s
2. a) hertz
3. a) v = f × λ
4. a) light
5. a) longitudinal
6. a) the maximum displacement from the rest position
7. Refer to solution guide.
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20. Refer to solution guide.
End of Worksheet

People Also Ask

What is the speed of light in a vacuum?

3 × 10⁸ m/s, option (a) in this worksheet (Q1).

What is the unit of frequency?

The hertz, option (a) in this worksheet (Q2).

What is the wave equation?

v = f × λ, option (a) in this worksheet (Q3).

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