Physics (AS & A Level) · May / June 2026 · Paper 13 · Question 26

A student demonstrates a longitudinal wave using a spring that lies on a table. The X- and Y-directions are shown. P is a point on the spring. Which pair of graphs could show the variation with time of the displacement of point P in the X- and Y-directions?

1. Adisplacement in X-direction: sinusoidal oscillation; displacement in Y-direction: zero (horizontal line)
2. Bdisplacement in X-direction: zero (horizontal line); displacement in Y-direction: sinusoidal oscillation
3. Cdisplacement in X-direction: sinusoidal oscillation; displacement in Y-direction: sinusoidal oscillation
4. Ddisplacement in X-direction: zero (horizontal line); displacement in Y-direction: zero (horizontal line)

As printed in the paper