PHYSICS 5054 · STRUCTURED PRACTICE
1
A ripple tank is used to investigate water waves. A dipper vibrating at a frequency of 12 Hz creates plane water waves. A student measures the distance between the 1st crest and the 5th crest to be 16 cm.
(a)
[2]Define what is meant by a transverse wave and state one difference between transverse and longitudinal waves.
(b)
[3](i)
[1]Determine the wavelength λ of the water waves.
(ii)
[2]Calculate the speed v of the water waves in cm s⁻¹.
(c)
[3]The waves travel from deep water into shallow water where their speed decreases to 9.6 cm s⁻¹. State and explain what happens to
(i)
the frequency, and
(ii)
[3]the wavelength of the waves in shallow water.
Total: 8 marks