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General properties of waves past paper questions

O Level Physics 5054 · General properties of waves. 1 Know that waves transfer energy without transferring matter 2 Describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibrations in ropes and springs and by experiments using water waves 3 Describe the features of a wave in terms of wavefront, wavelength, frequency, crest (peak), trough, amplitude and wave speed 4 Define the terms: (a) frequency as the number of wavelengths that pass a point per unit time (b) wavelength as the distance between two consecutive, identical points such as two consecutive crests (c) amplitude as the maximum distance from the mean position 5 Recall and use the equation wave speed = frequency × wavelength v = f λ 6 Know that for a transverse wave, the direction of vibration is at right angles to the direction of the energy transfer, and give examples such as electromagnetic radiation, waves on the surface of water, and seismic S-waves (secondary) 7 Know that

In Cambridge O Level Physics 5054, General properties of waves came up in 26 of the 72 papers on Paperstreak, for about 4 marks a paper when it does. It last came up in May/June 2025.

Often set with Sound, Electromagnetic spectrum, Refraction of light.

32 questions, newest first

  1. 5054/12/M/J/25 Question 19 · 1 mark
  2. 5054/12/M/J/25 Question 20 · 1 mark
  3. 5054/21/M/J/25 Question 5 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) (b(iii)) (c) · 6 marks
  4. 5054/22/M/J/25 Question 4 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) (b(iv)) (c(i)) (c(ii)) · 7 marks
  5. 5054/21/O/N/24 Question 5 parts (b) (c(i)) (c(ii)) · 7 marks
  6. 5054/11/M/J/24 Question 22 · 1 mark
  7. 5054/21/M/J/24 Question 4 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (b(i)) (b(ii)) (c) · 9 marks
  8. 5054/12/O/N/23 Question 24 · 1 mark
  9. 5054/21/O/N/23 Question 5 part (b) · 2 marks
  10. 5054/22/O/N/23 Question 6 part (a) · 2 marks
  11. 5054/41/O/N/23 Question 1 parts (b(ii)) (c(i)) (c(ii)) · 5 marks
  12. 5054/21/M/J/23 Question 7 · 7 marks
  13. 5054/22/M/J/23 Question 5 · 8 marks
  14. 5054/11/O/N/22 Question 23 · 1 mark
  15. 5054/21/O/N/22 Question 4 part (b(i)) · 2 marks
  16. 5054/22/O/N/22 Question 4 part (d) · 2 marks
  17. 5054/11/M/J/22 Question 19 · 1 mark
  18. 5054/11/M/J/22 Question 20 · 1 mark
  19. 5054/22/M/J/22 Question 8 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (b(i)) (b(ii)) (c(i)) (c(ii)) · 10 marks
  20. 5054/11/O/N/21 Question 17 · 1 mark
  21. 5054/11/O/N/21 Question 18 · 1 mark
  22. 5054/11/O/N/21 Question 19 · 1 mark
  23. 5054/12/O/N/21 Question 21 · 1 mark
  24. 5054/12/O/N/21 Question 22 · 1 mark
  25. 5054/21/O/N/21 Question 8 parts (b(iii)) (b(iv)) (b(v)) · 6 marks
  26. 5054/22/O/N/21 Question 3 part (a(ii)) · 2 marks
  27. 5054/11/M/J/21 Question 20 · 1 mark
  28. 5054/21/M/J/21 Question 4 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) · 3 marks
  29. 5054/22/M/J/21 Question 10 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) (a(iv)) (a(v)) · 9 marks
  30. 5054/11/O/N/20 Question 26 · 1 mark
  31. 5054/12/M/J/20 Question 29 · 1 mark
  32. 5054/12/M/J/20 Question 30 · 1 mark

Questions and mark schemes from Cambridge International past papers. Paperstreak isn't affiliated with Cambridge.