Physics (AS & A Level) · Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 14 · Question 24

A transverse progressive wave travels along a string. The graph shows the variation with distance of the displacement of the string at time t = 0. [graph: displacement against distance, showing a sinusoidal wave with direction of travel of the wave to the right, and point P marked on the distance axis] Which graph represents the variation with time of the velocity of point P on the string?

1. Avelocity-time graph: constant positive velocity (horizontal line above axis)
2. Bvelocity-time graph: triangular/sawtooth variation, starting at 0, rising to a peak, falling through zero to a negative trough, then rising back
3. Cvelocity-time graph: sinusoidal starting at 0, rising to a positive maximum, falling through zero to a negative minimum, then rising back
4. Dvelocity-time graph: sinusoidal starting at a negative minimum, rising through zero to a positive maximum, then falling back

As printed in the paper