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

A light ray in acrylic (n = 1.49) strikes a flat boundary with flint glass (n = 1.62) at 20° to the normal. Find the angle of refraction θ₂, measured from the normal.

n₁ = 1.49n₂ = 1.62θ₁ = 20°

θ₂ = °

2.Easy

A string of length 1.5 m and mass 8 g is stretched with a tension of 200 N. Find the speed v of transverse waves on it.

L = 1.5 mm = 8 gT = 200 N

v = m/s

3.Medium

A source of 300 Hz moves at 34 m/s away from a stationary observer. The speed of sound is 343 m/s. Find the frequency f′ that the observer hears.

f = 300 Hzv = 343 m/sv_s = 34 m/s

f′ = Hz

4.Medium

An object stands 18 cm in front of a thin converging lens with a focal length of 30 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 = 18 cmf = 30 cm

d_i = cm

5.Hard

Light of wavelength 650 nm falls on two slits 0.3 mm apart. The screen is 1.2 m away. Find the distance y₁ from the central bright fringe to bright fringe number 1.

λ = 650 nmd = 0.3 mmL = 1.2 mm = 1

y₁ = mm

6.Hard

A diffraction grating has 600 lines per millimetre. Light of wavelength 633 nm falls on it at right angles. What is the highest order m_max of bright maximum that can be seen?

N = 600 mm⁻¹λ = 633 nm

m_max =

Answer key

1. θ₂ = 18.34 °
2. v = 193.6 m/s
3. f′ = 272.9 Hz
4. d_i = −45 cm
5. y₁ = 2.6 mm
6. m_max = 2

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