Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
Do all points on a stationary wave oscillate with the same amplitude?✗ Yes — amplitude is constant along the wave, as in a progressive wave.✓ No — amplitude varies from zero at the nodes to a maximum at the antinodes.
When a wave refracts into a new medium, which property stays the same?✗ The wavelength stays the same and the frequency changes.✓ The frequency — the speed and wavelength change together.
Can sound waves be polarised?✗ Yes — any wave can be polarised with the right filter.✓ No — polarisation applies only to transverse waves, and sound is longitudinal.
Which type of wave can be polarised?✗ Longitudinal waves only✓ Transverse waves only
At a node on a stationary wave:✗ The amplitude is at its maximum.✓ The displacement is always zero.
Practise Waves & Quantum — free games
Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic:
