Waves, sound & optics worksheet with answers

Free printable Waves, sound & optics worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy

Light with a wavelength of 450 nm in vacuum enters glycerol (n = 1.47). Find its wavelength λ inside the material.

n = 1.47λ₀ = 450 nm

λ = nm

2.Easy

A water wave travels at 2 m/s with a wavelength of 10 m. Find its frequency f.

λ = 10 mv = 2 m/s

f = Hz

3.Medium

An object 1.5 cm tall stands 50 cm in front of a thin converging lens with a focal length of 30 cm. Find the image height h_i (negative for an inverted image).

h_o = 1.5 cmd_o = 50 cmf = 30 cm

h_i = cm

4.Medium

An object stands 25 cm in front of a thin converging lens with a focal length of 8 cm. Find the image distance d_i. Use the sign convention 1/f = 1/d_o + 1/d_i (f < 0 for a diverging lens, d_i < 0 for a virtual image).

d_o = 25 cmf = 8 cm

d_i = cm

5.Hard

Light of wavelength 633 nm passes through a single slit 0.12 mm wide. Find the width w of the central bright maximum on a screen 1.5 m away (between the first dark fringes on either side).

λ = 633 nma = 0.12 mmL = 1.5 m

w = mm

6.Hard

Light of wavelength 589 nm falls at right angles on a grating with 100 lines per millimetre. Find the angle θ₃ of the order-3 maximum.

N = 100 mm⁻¹λ = 589 nmm = 3

θ₃ = °

Answer key

1. λ = 306.1 nm
2. f = 0.2 Hz
3. h_i = −2.25 cm
4. d_i = 11.76 cm
5. w = 15.82 mm
6. θ₃ = 10.18 °

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