Physics 5054 · O Level · General properties of waves

General properties of waves — practice question

A learner measures the speed of a wavefront on the water surface. The learner pours water into a dish and uses a dropping pipette so that a single drop falls into the middle of the dish, as illustrated in Fig. 1.1. The wavefront formed then moves out to the edge of the dish and reflects back towards the centre.
(a)[3]

Fig. 1.2 shows a scale printed on the side of the dropping pipette. Describe the method the learner uses to place $1.0\,\text{cm}^3$ of water into the dropping pipette.

(b(i))[2]

The learner uses a stopwatch to find the time $t$ for the wavefront to move from the centre of the dish outwards and then return to the centre. Fig. 1.4 gives three readings for time $t$. Use the stopwatch readings in Fig. 1.4 to work out a precise value for $t$. Show your working and state your answer to a suitable number of significant figures.

(b(ii))[2]

The wavefront speed can be found from the equation $\text{speed} = \frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}}$. Fig. 1.3 is drawn to a scale of $1{:}2$, so it is half the size of the dish used in the experiment. Calculate the speed of the wavefront using your result from part (b)(i) and a measurement taken from Fig. 1.3.

(c(i))[2]

Identify two causes of uncertainty in this experiment.

(c(ii))[1]

Suggest one improvement that could be made to this experiment.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 10-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: Press the bulb / top of the pipette so that air is pushed out

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