3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

6 Wave Phenomena
Practice 6.1 (p. 48) By v = fλ , when the frequency is
1 D doubled and the speed remains
2 D unchanged, the wavelength is halved.
3 Therefore the new wavelength is 1 cm.
5
7 (a) Wavelength = = 1 cm
5
distance travelled
(b) Speed =
time taken
5
= = 2 cm s−1
2.5
(c) By v = fλ ,
4 (a) The wave speed remains to be 3 cm s−1.
v 2
(b) By v = fλ , when the frequency is frequency = = = 2 Hz
λ 1
doubled and the speed remains
(d) Reduce the speed of the vibrator by half.
unchanged, the wavelength is halved.
Therefore the new wavelength is 1 cm Practice 6.2 (p. 57)
and the new wavefronts are as shown.
1 D
2 B
3 D

α + 65° + 90° = 180°

5 Wave troughs are shown on the screen as α = 25°
dark lines. θ = 90° − γ = 90° − β = α = 25°
Wave crests are shown on the screen as v deep λ deep
5 =
bright lines. v shallow λ shallow
6 (a) The wavelength of the wave is 2 cm. 2 λ deep
=
(b) The frequency of the wave is 10 Hz. 1 3
Speed of water waves λ deep = 6 cm
= f λ = 10 × 2 = 20 cm s−1 The wavelength in the deep region is 6 cm.
(c) Increasing the frequency does not vX
6 By nX→Y = ,
change the wave speed, so the new vY
speed is 20 cm s−1. speed in region X = vY × nX→Y

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

= 4 × 1.25 7
−1
= 5 cm s

10 (a)
In region A In region B
Frequency 12 Hz 12 Hz
Wavelength 2 cm 1.5 cm
−1
Wave speed 24 cm s 18 cm s−1
(b) Region A is deeper.

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

11

12 (a)

(b) Wave speed in the deep region

= fλ = 2 × 3 = 6 cm s−1
(c) (i) The speed of the waves in the
shallow region is 3 cm s−1.
(ii) By v = fλ ,
v 3
wavelength = = = 1.5 cm
f 2
13 (a) Region B is deeper.
vA λ A
(b) By = ,
vB λ B
wavelength in region A
vA 2
= × λ B = ×1.5 = 1 cm
vB 3
(c)

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

(d) Refractive index from A to B

vA 2
= = = 0.667
vB 3

Practice 6.3 (p. 64)

1 D
2 C
3 A
4 (a) Diffraction of waves is the spreading of
waves around the edge into the shadow
of an obstacle without a change in
speed.
(b)

5 (a)

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

(b) Diffraction (b) No, I do not agree with the company.

(c) This is because ocean waves diffract
into the bay, so that the water in the bay
may not be calm enough for the sports.
7 (a) This design provides an entrance for the
ships and at the same time reduces the
amount of waves entering the typhoon
shelter.
(b) I do not agree with him.
If breakwaters are built as in Figure d,
water waves would diffract through the
opening and travel into the typhoon
shelter.

Practice 6.4 (p. 76)

1 D
2 A
3 D
4 B
5 (a) & (b)

6 (a)

(P can be any point on the antinodal

lines labelled by A(P).)
(Q can be any point on the nodal lines
labelled by N(Q).)
(c) Move the sources further apart. /
Decrease the wavelength of waves.
6 (a) Waves are arriving in phase at point P
but in antiphase at point Q.

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

(b) Path difference at point P 9 (a) (i)

= YP – XP
= 3.5λ – 2.5λ
=λ
= 2 cm
Path difference at point Q
= XQ – YQ
= 3.5λ – 3λ (ii)
= 0.5λ
= 1 cm
(c) Constructive interference happens at
point P.
Destructive interference happens at
point Q.
7 (a) By v = fλ ,
(b) When t = 2 s, P, Q and R are
v 30
wavelength = = = 2 cm momentarily at rest.
f 15
(b) Path difference at point A
Practice 6.5 (p. 88)
= QA – PA
1 C
= 66 – 60
2 A
= 6 cm
3 D
(c) Path difference at point A = 6 cm = 3λ
4 B
Constructive interference will be
5 B
observed at point A.
0.6
8 (a) Destructive interference Wavelength = = 0.4 m
1.5
(b) Constructive interference takes place at
Wave speed = fλ = 50 × 0.4 = 20 m s−1
positions where the path difference
6 (a) Wavelength = 70 × 2 = 140 cm
 1
equals  n + λ , where n = 0, 1, 2... (b) Holding the racquet at point A can
 2
reduce the vibrations felt by the hand.
Destructive interference takes place at
This is because the amplitude of
positions where the path difference
vibration at point A is smaller than that
equals nλ , where n = 0, 1, 2...
at point B.
7 (a) A travelling wave carries and transmits
energy from one place to another. On
the contrary, energy in a stationary
wave is localized.
(b) Both of them do not transfer matter.

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

8 (a) v 0.1
wavelength = = = 0.02 m = 2 cm
f 5

(b)

9 (a) They are all momentarily at rest.

(b) (i) Particles B and C are vibrating in
phase.
(ii) Particles B and C are vibrating in
antiphase with particle D.

Revision exercise 6
Multiple-choice (p. 93)
1 B
v deep λ deep
By = ,
v shallow λ shallow
λ shallow
vshallow = × vdeep
λ deep
1
= × 12
1.5
= 8 cm s−1
2 B
3 D
4 B
5 C
6 D
(2):
By v = fλ ,

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Path difference at P = 6 − 4 = 2 cm = λ Conventional (p. 96)

∴ Constructive interference occurs at P. 1 (12 × 0.5 A)
7 C Wave Wavelength Direction
8 D speed of travel
9 C Reflection no change no change change
At the mid-point between X and Y, the path Refraction change change change / no
difference is 0 and constructive interference change (at
takes place. i = 0°)
Then consider the left side of the mid-point. Diffraction no change no change change
Let the path difference be ∆ . Interference no change no change no change
Constructive interference takes place when 2 (Correct reflected pulse drawn) (3 × 1A)
∆ = nλ = 3n (a)
Also, ∆ ≤ XY = 17 cm
∴ 3n = ∆ ≤ 17
n ≤ 5.67
Therefore, the number of points of
constructive interference on the left side of
the mid-point is 5.
By symmetry, there are also 5 points of (b)
constructive interference on the right side of
the mid-point.
∴ total number of points of constructive
interference = 5 + 1 + 5 = 11
10 C
11 D
12 C
13 (HKCEE 2004 Paper II Q25)
(c)
14 (HKCEE 2005 Paper II Q36)
15 (HKALE 2005 Paper II Q29)
16 A
17 (HKALE 2006 Paper II Q7)
18 C
Wavelength = 2 × 0.60 = 1.20 m
Speed = fλ = 300 × 1.20 = 360 m s−1

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

3 (a) Largest possible wavelength (Decreasing wavelength) (1A)

= 2L = 2 × 10 = 20 m (1A) (Correct change in amplitude) (1A)
(b) Wave speed = fλ (1M) (b) Refraction (1A)
= 4 × 20 (c) The sloped edge of the ripple tank can
−1
= 80 m s (1A) reduce reflection of waves. (1A)
(c) A stationary wave could be produced. (d) Using spongy edge can also achieve the
(1A) purpose mentioned in (c). (1A)
Wave speed of the new stationary wave 6 (a)
−1
= 80 m s (1A)
By v = fλ ,
wavelength of the new stationary wave
v 80
= = = 10 m (1A)
f 4 ×2
4

(Shorter wavelength) (1A)

(Less bending) (1A)
(b)

(Shorter wavelength in region A than

(Axes with correct labels) (1A) that in Figure e) (1A)
(Correct amplitude) (1A) (Less bending) (1A)
(Correct period) (1A) (Shorter wavelength in region B than in
(Correct shape) (1A) region A) (1A)
5 (a) 7 (a) Wavelength of waves in region A
0.2
= = 0.04 m (1A)
5
Speed of waves in region A
= fλ (1M)
= 5 × 0.04

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

= 0.2 m s−1 (1A) (b) (i) Region B is deeper. (1A)

(ii) The frequency is unchanged,
which is 5 Hz. (1A)
Speed of waves in region B
5
= × 0.2
4
= 0.25 m s−1 (1A)
By v = fλ , (1M)
wavelength of waves in region B
v 0.25
= = = 0.05 m (1A)
f 5
(c)

(Correct wave direction) (1A)

(Longer wavelength) (1A)
(d) We can put a sheet of perspex in the
ripple tank. The water above the
perspex is shallower than elsewhere.
(1A)
8 (a) Path difference at P
1
= AP – BP = 2 cm = λ (1A)
2
Therefore, destructive interference
occurs. (1A)
(b) Particle P will vibrate up and down with

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

a larger amplitude. (1A) By v = fλ , doubling the frequency

halves the wavelength, so the new
wavelength is 2 cm. (1A)
The path difference at P, which is 2 cm,
is now equal to λ . (1A)
Therefore, constructive interference
occurs there. (1A)
The displacement−time graph of particle
P is as shown.

(Correct labelled axes) (1A)

(Correct shape of the graph) (1A)
9 (a) For constructive interference,
largest possible wavelength
= path difference (1A)
= 2 cm (1A)
(b) For destructive interference,
1
path difference = λ (1M)
2
1
2= λ
2
λ = 4 cm (1A)
The largest possible wavelength of the
waves is 4 cm.
(c) Path difference at Q
= 22 – 21 = 1 cm (1A)
Therefore, the largest possible
wavelength is 1 cm (i.e. path difference
at Q = λ and path difference at P =
2λ ). (1A)

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

(d) He cannot obtain a clear interference (b) (i) From Figure j, there are 4 waves
pattern (1A) over 1.4 cm and the scale used by
because the two sources are incoherent. the figure is 1 : 25. (1A)
(1A) Wavelength of the wave
10 (a) The boat oscillates up and down. (1A) 1.4
= × 25
(b) When waves approach the shore, their 4
wave speed (1A) = 8.75 cm (1A)
and wavelength decrease. (1A) (ii)
(c) (i) A tsunami is a transverse wave.
(1A)
This is because the moving
direction of water molecules
(vertical) is perpendicular to the
direction of travel of the tsunami
(horizontal). (1A)
distance travelled
(ii) Speed =
time taken
100 ×1000
= (1M)
8 ×60 (Correct shape) (2 × 1A)
−1
= 208 m s (1A) (Constant separation between
(iii) The depth of seabed in the ocean wave crests) (1A)
varies from place to place. (1A) (c) (i) Constructive interference (1A)
Therefore, refraction occurs and (ii) At point G, destructive
the wavefront bends. (1A) interference occurs, (1A)
(iv) The statement is incorrect. (1A) so the amplitude of the wave is
When water waves travel from the always zero and there is no wave
centre of earthquake to the shore, energy at that point. (1A)
water is not transferred. (1A) (iii)
Only energy is transferred by the
water waves. (1A)
11 (a) After reflection, the reflected waves
move away from the barrier at 45° to the
normal, and (1A)
they interfere with the incident waves.
(1A)

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Constructive interference occurs v 6.2

frequency = = = 5.17 Hz (1A)
when the path difference is 0, λ , λ 1.2
2λ ... (1A)
and destructive interference occurs
1
when the path difference is λ,
2
1 1
1 λ , 2 λ ... (1A)
2 2
At F and H, since the path
difference is 0 and λ respectively,
constructive interference occurs.
Similarly, constructive interference
occurs along PQ and TU and
forms lines of big crests and
troughs.
(1A)
At G, since the path difference is
1
λ , destructive interference
2
occurs. Similarly, destructive
interference occurs along RS and
so a line of calm water is formed.
(1A)
12 (a) 2 waves travel in opposite directions.
(1A)
The 2 waves should have similar
amplitude. (1A)
Stationary wave forms only at certain
frequencies. (1A)
(b) The displacement of a point on the
string is perpendicular to the mean
position of the string. (1A)
(c) The amplitude of the oscillation of point
A is larger than that of point B, (1A)
and they are in antiphase. (1A)
(d) Wavelength = 1.2 m (1M)
By v = fλ , (1M)

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3B Wave Motion II Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

(e)

(i) (6 loops) (1A)

(ii) (P, Q and R located appropriately,
i.e. they are not in neighbouring
loops of each other.) (1A)
13 (HKCEE 2005 Paper I Q5)
14 (a) Node (1A)
1.2
(b) Wavelength = = 0.48 m (1M)
2 .5
Speed = fλ = 75 × 0.48 = 36 m s−1(1A)
(c) A stationary wave with two loops on the
string has wavelength equal to 1.2 m.
By v = fλ ,
v 36
frequency = = = 30 Hz (1A)
λ 1 .2

Physics in articles (p. 100)

(a) The minimum size that ordinary optical
microscopes can resolve is about 200 nm.
(1A)
(b) Diffraction (1A)
(c) Light diffracts around the edges of objects of
size comparable to the wavelength. (1A)
As a result, fine details close to the
wavelength look blurred. (1A)
(d) The microscopes that use X-rays have a
higher resolving power. (1A)
This is because X-rays have a much shorter
wavelength. (1A)

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