3 A type of nuclear reaction takes place at the centre of the Sun. The reaction releases thermal energy. (a) State the name of the type of nuclear reaction that takes place at the centre of the Sun. … [1] (b) Thermal energy is emitted from the surface of the Sun into space. The energy is transferred through the vacuum of space by thermal radiation. (i) Describe the radiation that is emitted from the surface of the Sun. … … … [2] (ii) State the speed of this radiation in a vacuum. speed = … [1] (iii) The Earth is 1.5 × 1011 m from the surface of the Sun. Calculate the time taken for this radiation to travel to Earth. time = … [2] (c) Explain one advantage of wearing white clothes on sunny days. … … … [2] [Total: 8]

3(a) (nuclear) fusion B1 3(b)(i) electromagnetic (waves) B1 produced by hot objects or infrared (radiation) B1 3(b)(ii) 3.0 × 108 m / s B1 3(b)(iii) (t =) x / v or 1.5 × 1011 / 3.0 × 108 C1 500 s A1 3(c) white surfaces are (good) reflectors / poor absorbers of radiation B1 less thermal energy absorbed / wearer stays cooler B1

3 Fig. 3.1 shows light entering a transparent block. i θ φ transparent block Fig. 3.1 (not to scale) The light enters the block at an angle θ to the normal and travels through the block until it meets the bottom surface. The angle between the ray in the block and the vertical side of the block is φ. (a) Light travels more slowly in the block than in air. (i) Explain how Fig. 3.1 shows this. … … … [2] (ii) State what happens to the wavelength of the light and what happens to the frequency of the light as it enters the block. wavelength … frequency … [2] (b) The refractive index of the transparent material is 1.6. Angle θ is 45°. (i) Determine angle φ. φ = … [3] (ii) The angle of incidence i at the bottom surface is equal to φ and the critical angle for the material of the block in air is 39°. Explain what happens to the light after it meets the bottom surface. … … … [2] [Total: 9]

3(a)(i) it / light refracts / bends / moves towards normal or angle of incidence greater than angle of refraction B1 change in direction of the ray / refraction shows a change in speed (at the boundary) or sin(i) / sin(r) is ratio of speeds or top of ray slows down first and enters the block first B1 3(a)(ii) (wavelength) decreases B1 (frequency) does not change. B1 3(b)(i) (sin(r) =) sin(i) / n or sin(45°) / 1.6 or 0.71 / 1.6 or 0.44 or (r =) 21(°) C1 26(°) C1 64° A1 3(b)(ii) 64° / angle of incidence / i is greater than the critical angle / 39° or angle of incidence = 64° B1 it undergoes total internal reflection B1

4 (a) Fig. 4.1 shows a wave on a rope and Fig. 4.2 shows a wave on a spring. Both waves are moving in the direction shown by the arrows. Fig. 4.1 X Fig. 4.2 (i) State the name of each of the two types of wave shown. Fig. 4.1 … Fig. 4.2 … [1] (ii) On Fig. 4.1, draw a wave which has a smaller frequency than the wave shown. [1] (iii) Describe the movement of point X on the spring in Fig. 4.2 as the wave passes. … … [1] (b) Table 4.1 shows some sentences that a student writes about waves. His teacher places a ring around each mistake. Write a suitable correction for each mistake in Table 4.1. One has been done for you. Table 4.1 sentence correction Sound travels at 3.0 × 108 m / s in air. 330 Sound with a higher pitch has a larger amplitude. X-rays are used for pre-natal scanning. In the electromagnetic spectrum, microwaves have the highest frequency. [3] [Total: 6]

4(a)(i) Fig.4.1 transverse and Fig.4.2 longitudinal B1 4(a)(ii) wave drawn with larger wavelength B1 4(a)(iii) backwards and forwards, left and right, to and fro, vibration parallel to arrow / direction of wave (movement) B1 4(b) frequency B1 ultrasound B1 gamma B1 (a)(i) To earn the mark, you must correctly identify Fig. 4.1 as a transverse wave and Fig. 4.2 as a longitudinal wave. (a)(ii) To earn the mark, you must draw a wave on Fig. 4.1 that has a larger wavelength than the original wave. (a)(iii) To earn the mark, you must describe point X moving back and forth or vibrating parallel to the direction of wave movement. (b) To earn marks, you must provide the correct correction for each mistake: 'frequency' for amplitude, 'ultrasound' for X-rays, and 'gamma' for microwaves.

4 (a) In a demonstration, a teacher uses a loud ticking clock, two hollow tubes A and B, a barrier and a smooth surface. The clock is used as a source of sound. Fig. 4.1 shows tube A and the clock, both fixed in position on the left of the barrier. smooth surface hollow tube A ticking clock barrier hollow tube B ear Fig. 4.1 Sound from the ticking clock passes along tube A and is incident on the smooth surface. A student listens to the sound passing along tube B, which is on the right of the barrier. (i) On Fig. 4.1, draw tube B in the position where the sound heard by the student is loudest. [1] (ii) Explain your answer to (i). … … … [2] (b) The speed of sound in air is 330 m / s. State a typical value for the speed of sound in a solid. … [1] [Total: 4] Question 5 begins over the page

4(a)(i) tube in correct position and direction B1 4(a)(ii) reflection (of sound waves) mentioned B1 angle of incidence = angle of reflection or angle between A and surface = angle between B and surface B1 4(b) between 1000 m / s and 10 000 m / s B1 (a)(i) To earn this mark, you must draw tube B in the correct position and direction, such that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. (a)(ii) First, mention that reflection of sound waves occurs. Then, state that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, or that the angle between tube A and the surface is equal to the angle between tube B and the surface. (b) You need to state a typical value for the speed of sound in a solid that is between 1000 m/s and 10 000 m/s.

Cambridge O Level Physics · 5054

O-Level Physics (5054) Waves past paper questions

Revise O-Level Physics (5054) — Waves with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

246 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Waves in O-Level Physics 5054 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Waves accounted for 235 questions worth 810 marks in Cambridge O Level Physics (5054) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	39	133
2021	45	125
2022	39	158
2023	35	130
2024	34	135
2025	43	129

Most-tested subtopics

3.2.3 Thin lenses221 marks
3.2.2 Refraction of light213 marks
3.1 General properties of waves202 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 159 qs
Paper 2 · 37 qs
Paper 3 · 19 qs
Paper 4 · 20 qs

All most-tested Physics topics

2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 2 · Q3 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 2 · Q3 · 9 marks
Marking scheme
$Mark scheme: 3(a)(i) it / light refracts / bends / moves towards normal or angle of incidence greater than angle of refraction B1 change…$ Get Steven’s plain-English explanation
2021 May/Jun · Paper 2 · Q4 · 6 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 2 · Q4 · 4 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 1 · Q17 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q17
Answer: A
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