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Name :
Subject :
Chapter
:

SPM Physics
Waves

Teacher:
Class :
Lesson No :

Cheng Wui Leap

F5 Physics
3

Topic :

1.3 Analysing Refraction of Waves

Date :
Time :

23/1/16
2.00pm-4.00pm

Exercise
1. [Q30/SPM05]A tilted basin contains water. Water is dripped at a constant rate into the
basin as shown in the diagram below.

Which pattern of the wavefronts will be observed in the basin?

2.

[Q32/SPM06]Diagram 19 shows a ripple tank with a sloping base and a vibrator being vibrated.

Which of the following wave patterns can be seen on the screen?

3.

[Q32/SPM07]Diagram 20 shows water waves propagating in an area of different depths.

.

Which of the following diagrams shows the propagation of the waves correctly?

4.

[Q31/SPM09]Diagram 17 shows water waves propagating through a perspex block in a ripple

tank.

Which wave pattern is observed when the waves pass through the perspex block?

5. [Q6/P2/SPM09]Diagram 6.1 shows the side view of two ripple tanks. When the motors are
switched on, water waves with the same frequency are produced.

Diagram 6.2 shows the waves formed on the screens.

(a) What is the meaning of frequency? [1 mark]

(b) Observe Diagram 6.1 and Diagram 6.2.

i Compare the depths of the water in region X and region Y. [1 mark]

(ii) Compare the wave lengths of the waves in region X and region Y. [1 mark]

(iii) Relate the depth of water to the wave length of the waves. [1 mark]

(iv) Name the wave phenomenon involved. [1 mark]

Explain why the wave front of sea water will follow the shape of the shore when it
approaches the shore. [3 marks]

Exercise
1. Diagram 1 shows the ripples of the water wave moving from region L to region M. The time taken for
the wave to travel from region L to region. M is 0.8 seconds.

Calculate
(a) the frequency of the water wave,.

(b) the ratio of the speed of water wave in region L to that in region M.

2. A plane wave travels from shallow water region to deep water region. In the shallow water
region, the speed of the wave is 27 cms -1 whereas in the deep water region, the speed of water becomes 36
cms-1. If the wavelength of the wave in shallow water is 3 cm, what is the wavelength of the wave in deep
water?

3. A plane wave is travelling from deep water region to shallow water region. In the deep water region, the
speed of the wave is 60 cm s-1 and its wavelength is 5 cm.

(a)

(b)

What is the frequency of the water wave?

If the wavelength of the wave in the shallow water region is 4 cm, what is the speed of water wave in
the shallow water region?

4. When an electromagnetic wave of 6.5 x 1014 Hz travels from air to a denser medium, its wavelength
changes from 4.6 X 10-7 m to 4.0 10-7 m. What is the speed of the electromagnetic wave in the denser
medium?

5. Diagram 2 shows a set of plane ripples being refracted when it travels from deep water region to shallow
water region.

(a)

Calculate the ratio of the speed of water wave in deep water to that in shallow water.

(b)

If the speed of water wave in shallow water is 8.0 cm s -1, what is the frequency of the water wave?

Exercise
1.

First situation
The oscilloscope display shows an increase in the amplitude of the wave when a balloon filled with
carbon dioxide is placed between the loudspeaker and the microphone as shown in Figure (a).
Second situation
The water waves travel towards a convex shaped region of shallow water. The pattern of the water
waves after passing through the region of shallow water is shown in Figure (b)..
(a) (i) State one similarity and one difference between a sound wave and a water
wave.
[2 marks]

(ii) Study Figures (a) and (b). State in full the characteristics of both situations and relate
the characteristics to a phenomenon. What is this phenomenon called? [6 marks]

(b) Water waves get closer together as they approach the edge of a pond.
(i) Explain this observation.

(ii) With the use of suitable apparatus, explain how you would verify that the frequency of the water
wave is constant throughout its propagation on the surface of the pond.

(c) In daily life we find that sounds can be heard more clearly at night than in the day. Give an
explanation for this. State two factors that affect the speed of sound in a gas. [5 marks]

1.4DIFFRACTION OF WAVES
1. What is diffraction of waves?
7

Diffraction of waves is a phenomenon in which waves spread out as they pass through a gap or
round a small obstacle.

2. What are Characteristics of diffracted waves?

1. Frequency, wavelength and speed of waves do not change.
2. Changes in the direction of propagation and the pattern of the waves.
3. The amplitude of the diffraction wave decreases so its energy decrease.
3. What are the factors that influence the effect of diffraction?
The effect of diffraction is obvious if:
1. the size of the gap or obstacle is small enough
2. the wavelength is large enough.
The effect of diffraction is obvious if the shape of the diffracted waves more spread out or more
circular
Diffraction of sound
Sound diffracting around corners so allowing us to hear others who are speaking to us from adjacent rooms.
8

Diffraction of light
Light is diffracted if it passes through a narrow slit comparable in size to its wavelength.
However, the effect is not obvious as the size of the slit increases. This is because the wavelengths of light
are very short.

1. We can hear the sound of a radio placed nearby a corner of a wall but we cannot see the radio.
Why?
Sound waves are more easily diffracted in comparison to light waves because the wavelength of
sound waves is much longer than the wavelength of light waves.

Diffraction of water
Procedure
1. A ripple tank is filled with water and set up as shown.
2. Switch on the power pack.
3. Use a barrier to block the incident straight water waves. Observe the wave pattern beyond the
barrier.
4. Send a straight water waves to pass through a gap. Observe the pattern of diffracted waves beyond
the gap.
5. Send straight water waves towards a small gap. Observe the wave pattern beyond the small gap.

Observation
(a) Wide gap

The waves are bend only at the edges after passing through the gap.
The effect of diffraction is not obvious
(b) Narrow gap

The waves are circular and appear to originated from the small gap. The effect of diffraction is obvious
(a) Straight water wave propagate towards an obstacle.

Conclusion
As the size of the gap or obstacle is smaller , the effect of diffraction becomes obvious.

10

Exercise
1. [SPM08/P1/Q31]Diagram 18 shows water waves passing a block of rock in a river.
.

Which phenomenon explains the propagation of waves at X?

A Reflection
B Refraction
C Diffraction
D Interference
2.

[SPM10/P1/Q30]Diagram 24 shows water waves passing through a gap.

Which phenomenon explains the propagation of the waves?

A Reflection B Refraction C Diffraction
D Interference
3. The effects of diffraction are clearly visible if the width of the gap is smaller than wavelength.
4. When the width of the gap or size of the obstacle increases, the effect of diffraction becomes
noticeable less.
5. When the width of an aperture is small or approaches the dimension of the wavelength of the water
wave, the pattern of the diffracted waves appears like circular waves.
6. The figure shows the construction of a wall at the sea front of a port to protect the port from being
hit by large waves.

11

Draw the pattern of the waves after passing through the opening between the walls. How does the
wall protect the port?

7.

[SPM05/P2/B/Q10]Figure 10.1 shows the arrangement of the apparatus for an experiment to study
a wave phenomenon.

Figure 10.2 shows the bright and dark bands of the wave pattern formed on the screen when plane
waves pass through narrow and wipe gaps.

(a) (i) Explain how the dark and light bands are formed on the screen. [4 marks]

12

(ii) Observe Figure 10.2. Compare the wave patterns and the wavelengths of the waves
before and after they pass through the gaps.
Relate the size of the gaps, the wave patterns and the wavelengths to deduce a
relevant physics concept.[5 marks]

(iii) Name the wave phenomenon shown in Figure 10.2.[1 mark]

(b) Figure 10.3 shows the seashore of a fishing village. During the rainy season, waves
are big. One year the waves eroded the seashore, caused the jetty to collapse and
damage the fishermen's boats.

To prevent similar damage in the future, the fishermen suggest building retaining walls
and relocating the jetty.
Make further suggestions of ways to help the fishermen solve their problems.
You should use your knowledge of reflection, refraction and diffraction of waves to
explain these suggestions, to include the following aspects:

13

(i)

the design and structure of the retaining wall,

(ii)

the location of the new jetty,

(iii)

the size or energy of the waves.

14