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
L = 2 m

A string of length 2 m and mass 5 g is stretched with a tension of 20 N. Find the speed v of transverse waves on it.

L = 2 mm = 5 gT = 20 N
v = m/s
2.Easy
λ = 4 mv = 0.8 m/sf = ?

A water wave travels at 0.8 m/s with a wavelength of 4 m. Find its frequency f.

λ = 4 mv = 0.8 m/s
f = Hz
3.Medium
L = 0.4 mn = 7

A pipe closed at one end is 0.4 m long. The speed of sound is 343 m/s. Find the frequency f7 of its harmonic number 7.

v = 343 m/sn = 7L = 0.4 m
f7 = Hz
4.Medium
FF2 cmdo​ = 15 cmf = 20 cm

An object 2 cm tall stands 15 cm in front of a thin converging lens with a focal length of 20 cm. Find the image height hi (negative for an inverted image).

ho = 2 cmdo = 15 cmf = 20 cm
hi = cm
5.Hard
λ = 656 nmθ1​ = ?

Light of wavelength 656 nm falls at right angles on a grating with 600 lines per millimetre. Find the angle θ1 of the order-1 maximum.

N = 600 mm⁻¹λ = 656 nmm = 1
θ1 = °
6.Hard
λ = 450 nmd = 0.25 mmL = 1.2 my = ?

Light of wavelength 450 nm falls on two slits 0.25 mm apart. The screen is 1.2 m away. Find the distance y5 from the central bright fringe to bright fringe number 5.

λ = 450 nmd = 0.25 mmL = 1.2 mm = 5
y5 = mm

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 89.44 m/s
  2. 2. f = 0.2 Hz
  3. 3. f7 = 1501 Hz
  4. 4. hi = 8 cm
  5. 5. θ1 = 23.18 °
  6. 6. y5 = 10.8 mm

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