Lesson 5.1.1

5.1.1 Wave terms and the wave equation Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 5.1.1, Wave terms and the wave equation: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 5: Waves and Particle Nature of Light, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What term describes the shortest distance between two points in phase on a wave?

    • Amplitude
    • Frequency
    • Wavelength
    • Time period

  2. What term describes the maximum displacement of a wave from equilibrium?

    • Amplitude
    • Frequency
    • Phase difference
    • Wavelength

  3. What term describes the number of complete wave cycles per second?

    • Amplitude
    • Frequency
    • Wavelength
    • Period

  4. What term describes the time taken for one complete wave oscillation?

    • Frequency
    • Period
    • Wavelength
    • Phase

  5. Which equation relates wave speed v, frequency f and wavelength lambda?

    • v = f lambda
    • v = lambda/f
    • v = f^2 lambda
    • v = f/lambda

  6. Which wave property remains constant when a wave passes into a different medium?

    • Wavelength
    • Frequency
    • Amplitude
    • Wave speed

  7. What path difference between two points on a wave results in them being in phase?

    • Odd half-wavelengths
    • Integer wavelengths
    • Quarter wavelengths
    • Half wavelengths

  8. A sound wave of frequency 512 Hz travels at 340 m/s in air. What is its wavelength?

    • 0.66 m
    • 174000 m
    • 1.5 m
    • 0.0015 m

  9. A wave has frequency 50 Hz. What is its period?

    • 0.50 s
    • 50 s
    • 0.020 s
    • 0.0020 s

  10. A wave has wavelength 0.40 m and frequency 20 Hz. What is its speed?

    • 20 m/s
    • 2.5 m/s
    • 0.050 m/s
    • 8.0 m/s

  11. An ultrasound wave of frequency 2.0 MHz travels at 1500 m/s in body tissue. What is its wavelength?

    • 7.5 mm
    • 0.75 mm
    • 3.0 mm
    • 0.075 mm

  12. A displacement-time graph shows that one complete cycle of a wave takes 4.0 ms. What is its frequency?

    • 250 Hz
    • 2.5 kHz
    • 4.0 Hz
    • 0.25 Hz

  13. A wave of wavelength 2.5 m travels 40 m in 0.50 s. How many complete waves pass a fixed point in that time?

    • 8
    • 32
    • 4
    • 16

  14. Two points on a wave of wavelength 0.12 m are 0.30 m apart. What is their phase difference?

    • 360 degrees
    • 180 degrees
    • 90 degrees
    • 0 degrees

  15. On a wave, the distance between successive crests is 0.85 m and the frequency is 400 Hz. What is the wave speed?

    • 0.0021 m/s
    • 340 m/s
    • 34 m/s
    • 470 m/s

  16. What happens to the wavelength when the frequency of a wave doubles in a given medium?

    • It halves
    • It stays constant
    • It doubles
    • It quadruples

  17. A wave in air has wavelength 0.80 m at frequency 425 Hz. It enters water, where its wavelength becomes 3.4 m with the same frequency. What is its speed in water?

    • 4.3 x 10^2 m/s
    • 1.8 x 10^2 m/s
    • 1.4 x 10^3 m/s
    • 3.2 x 10^2 m/s

  18. A wave of wavelength 0.20 m and frequency 15 Hz travels along a rope a distance of 90 m. How long does it take?

    • 6.7 s
    • 1.5 s
    • 270 s
    • 30 s

  19. What is the frequency of a wave with a period of 0.040 seconds?

    • 2.5 Hz
    • 250 Hz
    • 25 Hz
    • 0.040 Hz

  20. Two points on a wave have a phase difference of 3 pi/2 radians. What is their path difference in wavelengths?

    • 0.25 wavelength
    • 1.5 wavelengths
    • 0.50 wavelength
    • 0.75 wavelength

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