Properties of Wave Pulses and Waves AP Physics 2 MCQ – Exam Style Questions etc.
Properties of Wave Pulses and Waves AP Physics 2 MCQ
Unit 14: Waves , Sound , and Physical Optics
Weightage : 15–18%
Exam Style Practice Questions , Properties of Wave Pulses and Waves AP Physics 2 MCQ
Question
For which of the following phenomena is an explanation that treats light as a wave most appropriate? Select two answers.
(A) Visible light shining on a metal must have a minimum frequency to cause electrons to be emitted.
(B) Visible light shining on a multislit grating causes an interference pattern.
(C) X-rays impart some of their momentum to an electron, causing the \(\mathrm{x}\)-rays to be scattered.
(D) X-rays incident on a crystalline solid create a diffraction pattern.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:B & D
Question
Student 1 and student 2 pull on opposite ends of a horizontal string that passes through a long, thin slit in a piece of cardboard, as shown in the top figure above. The plane of the cardboard is kept vertical, and the slit can be rotated so its angle \(\theta\) relative to the dashed vertical line changes.
Student 1 shakes the string, creating a transverse periodic wave of constant amplitude. At his end of the string, student 2 measures the amplitude of the wave that comes through the slit as a function of the angle of the slit relative to vertical. Student 2’s data is shown in the graph. In what direction is student 1 shaking the string?
(A) Horizontally
(B) Vertically
(C) At \(45^{\circ}\) to vertical
(D) Toward and away from the slit
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:A
Questions
The graph above shows the wave function \(\psi\)(x) of a particle moving in the region \(0< X< 4\)m. At which of the following positions is the probability of finding the particle greatest?
(A) 0.7 m
(B) 2.0 m
(C) 2.5 m
(D) 4.0 m
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
This option is correct. The greatest probability of locating the wave is at a position along the x-axis where the magnitude of the amplitude is the greatest, or where \(\psi ^{2}\) has the greatest value. This occurs at x = 2.0 m, where the magnitude of \(\psi\) is 3 and \(\psi ^{2}\) is 9.
Question
You and a friend are traveling in a car. You tune the car radio to a station of frequency 850 kHz. The graph below represents the electric field strength of the radio wave at a given position as a function of time.
Both the sound and radio waves are present inside the car. Which of the following is true about these waves?
(A) Both waves are longitudinal.
(B) Both waves can be polarized.
(C) Both waves travel at the speed of light.
(D) Sound waves require a medium in which to propagate and radio waves do not.
Answer/Explanation
Ans:D