Home / CIE AS & A Level Physics : 8.3 Interference – Exam style question – Paper 1

CIE AS & A Level Physics : 8.3 Interference – Exam style question – Paper 1

Question

Two loudspeakers X and Y emit sound waves that are in phase and of wavelength 0.75 m.

An observer O is able to stand anywhere on a straight line that passes through X and Y, as shown. The observer stands at a point where the sound waves from X and Y meet in phase.

What could be the distances OY and XY?

Answer/Explanation

Ans:     

Question

 Light of wavelength λ is incident normally on two narrow slits S1 and S2, a small distance apart.  Bright and dark fringes are observed on a screen a long distance away from the slits.

             

     The n th dark fringe from the central bright fringe is observed at point P on the screen.
     Which equation is correct for all positive values of n?
     A \(S_{2}P-S_{1}P=\frac{n\lambda }{2}\)
     B  \(S_{2}P-S_{1}P=\frac{n\lambda }{2}\)
     C  \(S_{2}P-S_{1}P=(n-\frac{1}{2})\lambda \)
     D   \(S_{2}P-S_{1}P=(n+\frac{1}{2})\lambda \)

Answer/Explanation

Ans:

Question

A teacher sets up the apparatus shown to demonstrate a double-slit interference pattern on a
screen.

Which change to the apparatus will increase the fringe spacing?
A  decrease the distance p
decrease the distance q
C  decrease the distance r
D  decrease the wavelength of the light

Answer/Explanation

Ans:

 

Question

Two loudspeakers are placed near to each other and facing in the same direction.
A microphone connected to an oscilloscope is moved along a line some distance away from the
loudspeakers, as shown.

Which statement about the waves emitted by the loudspeakers is not a necessary condition for
the microphone to detect a fixed point along the line where there is no sound?
A    The waves must be emitted in phase.
B    The waves must be emitted with a similar amplitude.
C    The waves must have the same frequency.
D    The waves must have the same wavelength.

Answer/Explanation

 

Question

  Two sources of microwaves P and Q produce coherent waves with a phase difference of 180°.
        The waves have the same wavelength λ.

             

      At the point S there is a minimum in the interference pattern produced by waves from the two
      sources. The distance (QS – PS) is called the path difference.
      Which expression could represent the path difference?

Answer/Explanation

Ans

 

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