Question 1: Explain the principle of how a ripple tank demonstrates wave properties such as reflection, refraction, and diffraction.

Answer: A ripple tank uses vibrating a source to produce water waves that mimic real waves; these waves can reflect off boundaries, change speed and direction when passing through different mediums (refraction), and bend around obstacles (diffraction), demonstrating wave behaviour.

Question 2: Define wavelength and frequency in the context of ripples in a ripple tank.

Answer: Wavelength is the distance between two successive wave crests or troughs, and frequency is the number of wave crests passing a fixed point per second.

Question 3: Multiple Choice: Which of the following factors affects the speed of water waves in a ripple tank?

Answer: The medium's elasticity and tension

Question 4: Fill in the blank: When a wave in a ripple tank hits a boundary at an angle, the wave undergoes ________ and ________.

Answer: reflection, refraction

Question 5: Describe an experiment to investigate how the tension of the string affects the wavelength of ripples produced in a ripple tank.

Answer: Set up a ripple tank with a vibrating source attached to a string or wire. Vary the tension in the string systematically, using weights or tensioners. Measure the wavelength of ripples at each tension level, ensuring water remains undisturbed. Record observations to analyse how increased tension affects wave speed and wavelength, considering the relationship between tension and wave velocity in a medium.

Question 6: Calculate the wavelength of water waves in a ripple tank if the wave frequency is 4 Hz and the wave speed is 0.2 m/s. Show your working.

Answer: Wavelength = Wave speed / Frequency = 0.2 m/s ÷ 4 Hz = 0.05 m

Question 7: An experiment shows that when the tension in a wire in a ripple tank is doubled, the wave speed increases by a factor of approximately 1.4. Explain why this occurs.

Answer: Increasing tension in the wire increases the elastic restoring force, which in turn increases wave speed because wave velocity in a stretched medium depends on the tension and mass per unit length. Specifically, wave speed is proportional to the square root of tension over mass per unit length, so doubling tension increases wave speed by roughly √2 ≈ 1.4.

Question 8: Identify two safety precautions students should observe when conducting ripple tank experiments.

Answer: Ensure the water is not spilled on electrical equipment to prevent electric shocks, and avoid sudden movements to prevent splashing and maintain water level stability.

Question 9: Describe how wave properties in a ripple tank are applied in the design of sonar technology.

Answer: Sonar technology uses high-frequency sound waves that reflect off objects and return to the source, similar to ripples reflecting off boundaries in a ripple tank. By analysing the time delay and change in wave properties, sonar systems can determine the distance, shape, and size of underwater objects, applying principles of reflection, refraction, and wave speed.