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
λ = 1 mv = 0.5 m/sf = ?

A water wave travels at 0.5 m/s with a wavelength of 1 m. Find its frequency f.

λ = 1 mv = 0.5 m/s
f = Hz
2.Easy
70°θ₂ = ?ethanol, n1​ = 1.36crown glass, n2​ = 1.50

A light ray in ethanol (n = 1.36) strikes a flat boundary with crown glass (n = 1.50) at 70° to the normal. Find the angle of refraction θ2, measured from the normal.

n1 = 1.36n2 = 1.50θ1 = 70°
θ2 = °
3.Medium
FF5 cmdo​ = 18 cmf = −20 cm

An object 5 cm tall stands 18 cm in front of a thin diverging lens with a focal length of 20 cm. Find the image height hi (negative for an inverted image).

ho = 5 cmdo = 18 cmf = −20 cm
hi = cm
4.Medium
L = ?n = 1

A pipe open at both ends must have its fundamental (first harmonic) at 114 Hz. The speed of sound is 343 m/s. Find the length L of the pipe.

v = 343 m/sn = 1f1 = 114 Hz
L = m
5.Hard
λ = 600 nmd = 0.25 mmL = 3 my = ?

Light of wavelength 600 nm falls on two slits 0.25 mm apart. The screen is 3 m away. Find the distance y2 from the central bright fringe to bright fringe number 2.

λ = 600 nmd = 0.25 mmL = 3 mm = 2
y2 = mm
6.Hard
SO10 m/sf = 30 kHz

A sensor at rest sends ultrasound of 30 kHz towards a car that approaches at 10 m/s and mixes the echo with the emitted signal. Find the beat frequency fb (speed of sound 343 m/s).

f = 30 kHzu = 10 m/sv = 343 m/s
fb = Hz

Answer key

  1. 1. f = 0.5 Hz
  2. 2. θ2 = 58.43 °
  3. 3. hi = 2.632 cm
  4. 4. L = 1.504 m
  5. 5. y2 = 14.4 mm
  6. 6. fb = 1802 Hz

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