Question 1: Explain the scientific principle demonstrated by ripple tanks and how they are used to study wave properties.

Answer: Ripple tanks visually demonstrate the propagation of waves on a water surface, allowing observation of wave properties such as wavelength, frequency, and speed.

Question 2: Define 'wavelength' in the context of water waves in a ripple tank.

Answer: Wavelength is the distance between two successive crests or troughs of a wave.

Question 3: List two variables that can affect the speed of waves in a ripple tank.

Answer: Water depth and wave frequency.

Question 1: Calculate the wave speed if the wavelength is 6 cm and the wave frequency is 3 Hz. (Use the formula v = f × λ, where v is wave speed, f is frequency, and λ is wavelength.)

Answer: 0.18 meters per second

Question 2: A wave in a ripple tank has a wavelength of 4 cm and travels at a speed of 0.2 m/s. What is its frequency?

Answer: 5 Hz

Question 1: Describe the key variables you would control when setting up a ripple tank experiment to measure wave speed.

Answer: Water depth, wave frequency, and amplitude.

Question 2: List two safety precautions to consider during ripple tank experiments.

Answer: Ensure electrical equipment is waterproof and avoid spillage of water on electrical components.

Question 1: In an experiment, when the water depth is increased, the wave speed decreases. Explain the scientific reason for this observation.

Answer: Increasing water depth increases inertia, which reduces wave speed because deeper water tends to slow wave propagation.

Question 2: If a wave’s wavelength is observed to double while the frequency remains constant, what happens to the wave speed?

Answer: The wave speed doubles because wave speed is directly proportional to wavelength when frequency is constant.

Question 1: Explain how ripple tanks can be used to model seismic waves and assist in understanding earthquakes.

Answer: Ripple tanks model seismic waves by simulating wave propagation on a water surface, helping scientists visualise how waves travel through Earth's crust, reflect, and refract during earthquakes, aiding in hazard assessment.

Question 2: Identify a real-world industry where understanding ripple-like wave behaviour is critical and justify why.

Answer: Communication industry, as understanding wave propagation in cables and wireless signals helps optimise data transmission and reduce interference.