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The nature of waves: WJEC A‑Level Physics questions

Every WJEC A-Level Physics exam question on 2.4 The nature of waves, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,173 questions

  1. Q4(a)(i)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 2

    1 mark2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 2, question 4(a)(i): State the value of the wavelength. [1]

  2. Q4(a)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 2, question 4(a)(ii): The periodic time is 100 ms. Calculate the speed of the waves. [2]

  3. Q4(a)(iii)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 2, question 4(a)(iii): t = 50 ms. [2] t = 25 ms X Y t = 50 ms X Y

  4. Q6

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 2

    6 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 2, question 6: State what is meant by ‘unpolarised light’ and describe carefully how you would determine, using a polarising filter (polaroid), whether a light source is givin

  5. Q3(a)(i)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 2

    1 mark2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 2, question 3(a)(i): State what is meant by the amplitude of a progressive wave. [1]

  6. Q3(a)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 2, question 3(a)(ii): The following graph shows the displacement of point A with respect to time. 10 5 0 0.0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 –5 Time / s Time / s –10 Determine the speed of the w

  7. Q3(a)(iii)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 2, question 3(a)(iii): Sketch the displacement-time graph of point B on the grid in (a)(ii). [2]

  8. Q6(h)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 3

    2 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 3, question 6(h): Read through the following article carefully. How do you produce really low temperatures and can you then do some cool stuff with it? Paragraph Pressure / 105 P

  9. Q3

    Summer 2022 · AS Unit 2

    6 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 AS Unit 2, question 3: Explain what is meant by a progressive wave, and explain the difference between a longitudinal and a transverse progressive wave, giving one example of each of

  10. Q5(a)(i)

    Summer 2022 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 AS Unit 2, question 5(a)(i): Calculate the wave speed. [2]

  11. Q6(c)

    Summer 2019 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2019 AS Unit 2, question 6(c): Most laser pointers produce polarised light. Discuss whether or not students attending a lecture in which a laser pointer is used should be given spectacles fit

  12. Q4(a)

    Summer 2018 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2018 AS Unit 2, question 4(a): A progressive wave is travelling from left to right along a stretched string at a speed of 0.40 m s–1. The diagram shows the string at time t = 0 direction of w

  13. Q4(a)(i)

    Summer 2017 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2017 AS Unit 2, question 4(a)(i): Calculate the distance that the wave travels in a time of 0.34 s. [3]

  14. Q4(a)(ii)

    Summer 2017 · AS Unit 2

    1 mark2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2017 AS Unit 2, question 4(a)(ii): Carefully sketch on the diagram above the same part of the string at time t = 0.34 s. (The periodic time is 0.040 s.) [1]

  15. Q6(b)(i)

    Summer 2016 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2016 AS Unit 2, question 6(b)(i): State the phase relationship between the displacements at A and B, then determine the longest, and the second longest, wavelength that the wave could have. [3]

  16. Q6(b)(ii)

    Summer 2016 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.4 The nature of waves
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2016 AS Unit 2, question 6(b)(ii): which of the two wavelengths in (b)(i) is the correct one, giving your reasoning. [3]
All 16 questions on The nature of waves, as a list
  1. Summer 2024, AS Unit 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): State the value of the wavelength. [1]
  2. Summer 2024, AS Unit 2, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): The periodic time is 100 ms. Calculate the speed of the waves. [2]
  3. Summer 2024, AS Unit 2, Q4(a)(iii) (2 marks): t = 50 ms. [2] t = 25 ms X Y t = 50 ms X Y
  4. Summer 2024, AS Unit 2, Q6 (6 marks): State what is meant by ‘unpolarised light’ and describe carefully how you would determine, using a polarising filter (polaroid), whether a light source is givin
  5. Summer 2023, AS Unit 2, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the amplitude of a progressive wave. [1]
  6. Summer 2023, AS Unit 2, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): The following graph shows the displacement of point A with respect to time. 10 5 0 0.0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 –5 Time / s Time / s –10 Determine the speed of the w
  7. Summer 2023, AS Unit 2, Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Sketch the displacement-time graph of point B on the grid in (a)(ii). [2]
  8. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q6(h) (2 marks): Read through the following article carefully. How do you produce really low temperatures and can you then do some cool stuff with it? Paragraph Pressure / 105 P
  9. Summer 2022, AS Unit 2, Q3 (6 marks): Explain what is meant by a progressive wave, and explain the difference between a longitudinal and a transverse progressive wave, giving one example of each of
  10. Summer 2022, AS Unit 2, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the wave speed. [2]
  11. Summer 2019, AS Unit 2, Q6(c) (3 marks): Most laser pointers produce polarised light. Discuss whether or not students attending a lecture in which a laser pointer is used should be given spectacles fit
  12. Summer 2018, AS Unit 2, Q4(a) (3 marks): A progressive wave is travelling from left to right along a stretched string at a speed of 0.40 m s–1. The diagram shows the string at time t = 0 direction of w
  13. Summer 2017, AS Unit 2, Q4(a)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the distance that the wave travels in a time of 0.34 s. [3]
  14. Summer 2017, AS Unit 2, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Carefully sketch on the diagram above the same part of the string at time t = 0.34 s. (The periodic time is 0.040 s.) [1]
  15. Summer 2016, AS Unit 2, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): State the phase relationship between the displacements at A and B, then determine the longest, and the second longest, wavelength that the wave could have. [3]
  16. Summer 2016, AS Unit 2, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): which of the two wavelengths in (b)(i) is the correct one, giving your reasoning. [3]

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