Part A

Surname

Name

American Academy Larnaca

Year 4 Double Science
Semester 2

Test 2

Unit P1

Universal Physics

Topic 4

Waves and the Earth

Part A

Time: 20 minutes

The total marks for this part is 20.

The total marks for the paper is 40.
The marks for each question are shown in square brackets.
Use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
Questions labelled with an asterisk (*) are ones where the quality of your written
communication will be assessed.
You should take particular care with your spelling and grammar, as well as the
clarity of expression, on these questions.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided.
There may be more space than you need.

Part B

Part A

FORMULAE
You may find the following formulae useful.

wave speed = frequency wavelength

wave speed

distance covered
time taken

electrical power = current potential difference

v=f

x
t

P=IV

cost of electricity = power time cost of 1 kilowatt-hour

power

energy used
time taken

efficiency

(useful energy transferred by thedevice)

100%
(totalenergy supplied to thedevice)

Do not forget to include units in all your answers.

Part B

E
t

1. a) Infrasound is a low frequency sound wave.

Which of the following could be a use for infrasound?
Put a cross ( ) in the box next to your answer.
A
B
C
D

[1]

cleaning golf clubs

communication between animals
measuring the depth of the ocean
scanning unborn babies

b) Describe how infrasound differs from ultrasound.

[2]

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
[Marks for Q1 = 3]
2. The diagram shows a section through the Earth with an earthquake happening at X.

P waves and S waves are produced at X and travel in curved paths.

P waves and S waves can be detected at Y.
(i) Give the name of the effect which causes the waves to travel along curved paths. [1]
_______________________________________________________________________
(ii) Explain why this effect occurs.

[2]

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(iii) P waves from X can be detected at Z.
S waves from X cannot be detected at Z.
Explain what information this gives about the Earths structure.

[2]

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

The S waves travel at 0.65 km/s.

There is a seismometer 80 km away from point X.
(iv) Show that it takes about 2 minutes for the S waves from the earthquake to reach the
seismometer.
[2]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
The P waves travel about 10 times more quickly than S waves.
(v) Describe how scientists can use seismometer records of P and S waves to locate the
epicentre.
[3]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(vi) Seismic waves have a frequency of about 15 Hz.
P waves have a much smaller amplitude than S waves.
Some people claim that animals can detect an earthquake before people are aware of it.
Suggest an explanation for this.
[2]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
[Marks for Q2 = 7]

3. Ultrasound has many different applications.

(a) (i) Complete the sentence by putting a cross (
Ultrasound is used for
A
B
C
D

) in the box next to your answer.

[1]

cooking
communication between animals
communication with satellites
detecting forged bank notes

(ii) Explain why ultrasound rather than X-rays are used for foetal scanning.

[2]

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(b) An ultrasound wave vibrates 30 000 times a second.
(i) State the frequency of the wave.

[1]

_____________________________________________________________________
(ii) Describe the motion of particles in a material when this ultrasound wave passes through.
[2]
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
[Marks for Q3 = 6]

4.

Speed of sound:
sea water 1533 m/s
fresh water 1493 m/s

A fishing boat at sea uses sonar to work out how deep the sea is. It sends out a ping of sound
and detects the echo 2 seconds later.
a) How far has the sound travelled in the 2 seconds?

[2]

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
b) How deep is the water?

[1]

_______________________________________________________________________
c) Why is it important that the sonar machine has the information about what kind of water the
boat is in?
[1]
_______________________________________________________________________
[Marks for Q4 = 4]
[Total marks for Part A = 20]

Mark scheme
Part A
Answer
1.(a)
B
1.(b)
infrasound has very low frequency (1)
ultrasound has very high frequency (1)
2.(i)
refraction (1)
2.(ii)
Explanation include two of following:
density of rocks (1)
is changing (1)
speed depends on density
2.(iii)
core/centre is liquid (1)
because S waves/transverse waves cannot travel
through liquids (1)
2.(iv)
time = distance speed (1)
= 80 0.65
= 123s (1)
2.(v)
Explanation to include three of the following:
P waves arrive first (1)
time delay of S waves [measured] (1)
speeds known/can be estimated
distance can be calculated (1)
2.(vi)
seimic waves cannot be heard by humans/can be
heard by some animals (1)
low amplitude P waves [that arrive first] may not
be felt by humans but may be heard by some
animals (1)
3.(a)(i) B (1)
3.(a)(ii) ultrasound is safe/X-rays are dangerous (1)
X-rays are ionising [radiation] (1)
3.(b)(i) 30 000 (Hz) (1)
3.(b)(ii) particles oscilate/move back and forth (1)
in direction of wave (1)
4(a)
distance = speed x time (1)
= 1533 x 2
= 3066 (m) (1)
4(b)
1533 m (1)
4(c)
density/kind of water effects speed (1)

Acceptable answer

refracted (1)
waves reflected at
boundaries (1)

Marks
(1)
(2)
(1)

(2)

(2)
answer without
calculation (2)
(2)

(2)

(2)
(1)
X-rays cause
mutations

(2)
(1)
(2)

2094 m (1)

1493 if ECF (1)

(2)
(1)
(1)

Part B
Answer

Acceptable answer

Mark
s

1.(i)
(1)
(1)

(2)
1.(ii)
substitution: (1)

Allow substitution and

transposition in either
order if clear

transposition: (1)

evaluation / comment: (1) 825(V) /

which is about 800 (V)
Correct comparison of
ratios scores 3 (15 and
14.5, 0.067 and 0.069)
1.(iii)

to decrease sizes of currents (1)

to reduce power losses (1)

2.(a)

(3)
(2)
(4)

2000

(1)

2 (1)

0.06 (2)

2.(b)

allow ecf

Cost per day (p) (1)

55.2 (1)
69 (1)
1.38 (1)

3.(a)(i)

(4)

(1)

brushes

3.(a)(ii)
3.(b)

contact with moving slip rings (1)

Three from:
more turns on coil (1)
stronger magnets (1)
turn coil faster (1)
iron core (1)

stop wires tangling (1)

(1)
(3)