5 (a) Describe an experiment to determine the speed of sound in air. State the apparatus required, the measurements taken and how to calculate the speed of sound in air from the measurements. You may draw a labelled diagram as part of your answer. … … … … … … … [4] (b) Bluetooth is used to connect a mobile (cell) phone to headphones. (i) State the name of the region of the electromagnetic spectrum used by Bluetooth. … [1] (ii) State the speed of electromagnetic waves in air. speed = … [1] Ĭ Ċ Ġ í õ Ī Ċ ù þ (iii) The frequency of a Bluetooth network is 2.48 GHz. Calculate the wavelength of the waves used in the Bluetooth network. wavelength = … [3] [Total: 9] , ,

5(a) echo method (outside): 1 method of producing short, loud sound (e.g. clap / shout / cry out / bang 2 pieces of wood together) 2 measuring tape or trundle wheel, stopwatch and wall 3 (person) starts stopwatch when clap etc heard and stops it when echo heard 4 speed = 2  measured distance ÷ time B4 OR direct method outside: 1 method of producing short, loud sound (e.g. fire gun) 2 measuring tape or trundle wheel, stopwatch 3 (student at one end) starts stopwatch when smoke seen from gun and stops it when sound heard 4 speed = distance ÷ time B4 OR direct method (using digital): 1 method of producing short sound e.g. clap or hammer striking block 2 measuring tape or metre ruler, digital timer and microphones 3 digital timer starts when sound reaches first microphone and stops when sound reaches second microphone. Time difference is recorded on digital timer owtte 4 speed = distance ÷ time for direct method B4 5(b)(i) radio waves B1 5(b)(ii) 3(.0)  108 m / s B1 5(b)(iii) 0.12 m A3 v = f OR ( =) v ÷ f OR ( =) {3(.0)  108} ÷ {2.48  109} C1 ( =) {3(.0)  108} ÷ {2.48  109} OR ( =) 1.2  10N C1

3 A student investigates the image formed by a converging lens. Refer to Fig. 3.1. (a) The student: • switches on the lamp • places the screen a distance D = 80.0 cm from the illuminated object (a triangular hole in a piece of card) • places the lens close to the illuminated object • moves the lens away from the illuminated object until a magnified, inverted, sharp image of the illuminated object is formed on the screen. Fig. 3.1 shows the position of the lens when the image is sharp. D converging lens in holder illuminated object x screen Fig. 3.1 (i) On Fig. 3.1, measure, to the nearest 0.1 cm, the object distance x from the centre of the lens to the illuminated object. x = … cm [1] (ii) Fig. 3.1 is drawn to a scale of one-fifth full size. Calculate the actual object distance X. X = … cm [1] (b) The student: • continues to move the lens away from the illuminated object until a second sharp image, which is diminished and inverted, is formed on the screen • measures, to the nearest 0.1 cm, the object distance Y from the centre of the lens to the illuminated object. 59.8 cm Y = … Ĭ Ċ Ġ í õ Ī Ċ ü þ (i) Fig. 3.2 shows the illuminated object. On Fig. 3.2, draw a diminished, inverted image in the space provided. illuminated object image Fig. 3.2 [1] (ii) Calculate the value d = (Y – X). d = … cm [1] (c) The focal length f of the lens can be found using the equation: f = (D 2 – d 2) 4D . Use the value of D from (a) and d from (b)(ii) to calculate a value f1 for the focal length of the lens. Give your answer to 3 significant figures. f1 = … cm [2] , , (d) The student repeats the procedure in (a) and (b) for an object to screen distance D = 100.0 cm. The student records the values of X, Y and d. 18.1 cm X = … 81.8 cm Y = … 63.7 cm d = … Calculate a second value f2 for the focal length of the lens using the equation in (c). f2 = … cm [1] (e) Two quantities can be considered to be equal within the limits of experimental accuracy if their values are within 10% of each other. State whether your values of f1 and f2 from (c) and (d) can be considered equal. Support your statement with a calculation. statement … … [2] , , Ĭ Ċ Ġ í õ Ī Ċ ü Ā (f) (i) State one technique to use when doing this type of experiment to ensure that the image on the screen is focused as clearly as possible. … … … [1] (ii) This experiment is usually done in a darkened room. Explain how this makes it easier to see when the image is in focus. … … [1] [Total: 11] , ,

3(a)(i) x = 4.1 (cm) 1 3(a)(ii) X = 20.5 (cm) OR candidate’s (a)(i)  5 1 3(b)(i) inverted, diminished triangle drawn 1 3(b)(ii) 39.3 (cm) 1 3(c) 15.17(346875) (cm) 1 15.2 (cm) 1 3(d) 14.9 (cm) 1 3(e) statement to match results (expect YES) 1 values used in a calculation to justify the statement 1 3(f)(i) move the lens slowly / backwards and forwards 1 3(f)(ii) better contrast between the image and the rest of the screen / edges of the image are sharper / more visible / easier to view 1

6 Fig. 6.1 shows the path of a ray of red light through a glass block in air. The critical angle for the red light as it travels from glass into air is 43°. glass block air A B P 62° C ray of red light Fig. 6.1 (a) (i) On Fig. 6.1, label the angle of incidence at A. Use the letter X to label the angle. [1] (ii) State the name of the process which occurs at A. … [1] (iii) State the name given to the dashed line at A. … [1] (b) (i) On Fig. 6.1, one of the angles at B is 62°. State the value of the angle labelled P. … [1] (ii) State the name of the process which occurs at B. … [2] (c) On Fig. 6.1, draw the path of the ray of red light as it travels from C into the air. [1] [Total: 7]

6(a)(i) angle of incidence correctly identified (with × between normal and incident ray) B1 6(a)(ii) refraction B1 6(a)(iii) normal (line) B1 6(b)(i) 62° B1 6(b)(ii) reflection C1 total internal reflection A1 6(c) ray refracted away from normal B1

6 (a) Fig. 6.1 shows part of a water wave. height 0 P Q S T R distance Fig. 6.1 (i) State the letter P, Q, R, S or T on Fig. 6.1 that represents the wavelength of the water wave. … [1] (ii) State the letter P, Q, R, S or T on Fig. 6.1 that represents the amplitude of the water wave. … [1] (iii) State what is meant by the term frequency of a wave. … … [1] (b) Two students, A and B, use echoes to measure the speed of sound. Student A has two blocks of wood that make a loud sound when banged together. Student B has a stop‑watch. They stand 120 m from a school wall as shown in Fig. 6.2. school wall 120 m B A stop-watch blocks of wood Fig. 6.2 (not to scale) Describe how the students use the arrangement in Fig. 6.2 to determine the speed of sound in air. … … … … … … … [4] [Total: 7]

6(a)(i) R B1 6(a)(ii) P B1 6(a)(iii) idea of: number of (complete) waves {sent out or produced or passing a point} {in one second or unit time} B1 6(b) any four from: (student A) bangs two blocks of wood together (student B) starts stopwatch when (sees) blocks or wood collide (student B) stops stopwatch when she hears echo repeat (experiment) AND calculate average (time) uses 240 m as distance travelled by sound owtte use s= d ÷ t B4

Cambridge IGCSE Physics · 0625

IGCSE Physics (0625) Waves past paper questions

Wave questions cover general wave properties, reflection and refraction of light, the electromagnetic spectrum, and sound.

788 free questions from 2016–2025, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Waves in IGCSE Physics 0625 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Waves accounted for 846 questions worth 2,632 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) papers.

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Year	Questions	Marks
2020	125	391
2021	141	421
2022	134	382
2023	141	460
2024	156	493
2025	149	485

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3.2 Light1295 marks
3.3 Electromagnetic spectrum485 marks
3.1 General properties of waves445 marks

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2025 May/Jun · Paper 4 · Q5 · 9 marks
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2025 May/Jun · Paper 6 · Q3 · 11 marks
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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 3 · Q6 · 7 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q6 · 7 marks
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2025 May/Jun · Paper 2 · Q24 · 1 mark
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Mark scheme — 2025 Paper 2 Q24
Answer: C
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Waves in IGCSE Physics 0625 exams, 2020–2025

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