Transverse and longitudinal waves
7.2What the syllabus asks of you
- compare transverse and longitudinal waves
- analyse and interpret graphical representations of transverse and longitudinal waves
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Chapter 7: Transverse and longitudinal waves
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Every question on Transverse and longitudinal waves, untimed, marked as you go.
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36 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 13 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AAll transverse waves are electromagnetic waves.
BLongitudinal waves include sound waves and microwaves.
CThe equation v = fλ applies only to transverse waves and not to longitudinal waves.
DTransverse waves and longitudinal waves can both be progressive waves.
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2May / June 2026 · Paper 13 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Adisplacement in X-direction: sinusoidal oscillation; displacement in Y-direction: zero (horizontal line)
Bdisplacement in X-direction: zero (horizontal line); displacement in Y-direction: sinusoidal oscillation
Cdisplacement in X-direction: sinusoidal oscillation; displacement in Y-direction: sinusoidal oscillation
Ddisplacement in X-direction: zero (horizontal line); displacement in Y-direction: zero (horizontal line)
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3May / June 2026 · Paper 14 · Q25Show mark scheme →
ATransverse waves can diffract.
BAll transverse waves have nodes and antinodes.
CSound in air is an example of a transverse wave.
DTransverse waves cannot be formed on a spring.
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4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Acan travel in a vacuum: no; can be polarised: no; can diffract through a gap: yes
Bcan travel in a vacuum: yes; can be polarised: no; can diffract through a gap: no
Ccan travel in a vacuum: no; can be polarised: yes; can diffract through a gap: no
Dcan travel in a vacuum: no; can be polarised: yes; can diffract through a gap: yes
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5Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AThe particle is moving away from the source.
BThe particle is moving towards the source.
CThe particle is moving upwards.
DThe particle is moving downwards.
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6Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Afalse, false, true
Bfalse, true, true
Ctrue, false, false
Dtrue, true, false
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7Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 13 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Acan travel in a vacuum: no; can be polarised: no; can diffract through a gap: yes
Bcan travel in a vacuum: yes; can be polarised: no; can diffract through a gap: no
Ccan travel in a vacuum: no; can be polarised: yes; can diffract through a gap: no
Dcan travel in a vacuum: no; can be polarised: yes; can diffract through a gap: yes
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8Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 13 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AThe particle is moving away from the source.
BThe particle is moving towards the source.
CThe particle is moving upwards.
DThe particle is moving downwards.
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9May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AAll transverse and longitudinal waves require a medium for propagation.
BAll transverse waves travel at the same speed, but longitudinal waves can travel at different speeds.
CIn both transverse waves and longitudinal waves, a particle with zero displacement has a maximum speed.
DIn a longitudinal wave there is a net movement of particles in the direction of travel of the wave, but there is no net movement of particles in a transverse wave.
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10May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A
B
C
D
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11May / June 2025 · Paper 14 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Ax-axis: distance; y-axis: displacement of particles to the right
Bx-axis: distance; y-axis: displacement of particles upwards
Cx-axis: time; y-axis: displacement of particles to the right
Dx-axis: time; y-axis: displacement of particles upwards
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12Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
AGraph A: displacement against distance, single positive half-sine arch from 0 to x
BGraph B: displacement against distance, single negative half-sine arch from 0 to x
CGraph C: displacement against distance, full sine wave with one positive and one negative half, ending at x
DGraph D: displacement against distance, full sine wave starting at maximum displacement, ending at x
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13May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
ALongitudinal waves on the string cause longitudinal waves in the air.
BLongitudinal waves on the string cause transverse waves in the air.
CTransverse waves on the string cause longitudinal waves in the air.
DTransverse waves on the string cause transverse waves in the air.
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14Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Atransverse waves: contain compressions and rarefactions; longitudinal waves: some can travel in a vacuum
Btransverse waves: can be polarised; longitudinal waves: contain compressions and rarefactions
Ctransverse waves: vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wave energy; longitudinal waves: can be polarised
Dtransverse waves: some can travel in a vacuum; longitudinal waves: vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wave energy
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15Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 13 · Q21Show mark scheme →
AP and R
BP and S
CR and S
DQ and S
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16May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A
B
C
D
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17Feb / March 2023 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
ABoth waves can be polarised.
BBoth waves can form stationary waves.
CBoth waves can transfer energy as progressive waves.
DBoth waves obey the equation v = fλ.
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18Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AParticles in a transverse wave have fixed equilibrium positions but those in longitudinal waves do not.
BTransverse waves can be polarised but longitudinal waves cannot.
CTransverse waves transfer energy but longitudinal waves do not.
DTwo-source interference can be demonstrated with transverse waves but not with longitudinal waves.
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19May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AGases cannot transmit longitudinal waves.
BLongitudinal sound waves cannot form stationary waves.
CSolids can transmit both transverse and longitudinal waves.
DTransverse waves cannot pass through a vacuum.
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20May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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21May / June 2022 · Paper 13 · Q24Show mark scheme →
AThe displacement measurements for the particles of the two waves are made at right angles to each other.
BThe energy transferred by the two waves is in the same direction.
CThe velocities of the two waves are in the same direction.
DThe wavelength measurements for the two waves are made at right angles to each other.
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22Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
ALongitudinal waves can be used to demonstrate diffraction.
BLongitudinal waves can travel in a vacuum.
CTransverse waves can form stationary waves.
DTransverse waves can transfer energy.
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23Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Aoscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer — gamma-rays
Boscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer — ultraviolet waves
Coscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer — sound waves
Doscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer — X-rays
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24Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 13 · Q23Show mark scheme →
ABoth longitudinal and transverse waves can travel through a vacuum.
BBoth longitudinal and transverse waves transfer matter.
CLongitudinal progressive waves consist of alternate nodes and antinodes.
DThe particles of a transverse wave vibrate perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation.
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25May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
A
B
C
D
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26May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Aparticles in a longitudinal wave with a compression and the nearest rarefaction separated by 10 cm
Bparticles in a longitudinal wave with a compression and the nearest rarefaction separated by 20 cm
Cparticles in a transverse wave with a peak and the nearest trough separated by 20 cm
Dparticles in a transverse wave with two adjacent peaks separated by 10 cm
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27Feb / March 2021 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
AThey can form stationary waves.
BThey can only travel through a medium.
CThey can transfer energy in the direction of travel.
DThey consist of peaks and troughs.
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28Feb / March 2020 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Aparallel, air
Bparallel, vacuum
Cperpendicular, air
Dperpendicular, vacuum
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29Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
AThey all have the same speed.
BThey all have vibrations that are parallel to the direction of propagation of energy.
CThey can all form stationary waves.
DThey can all travel through a vacuum.
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30Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 13 · Q21Show mark scheme →
ALight waves and sound waves can both demonstrate the Doppler effect.
BLight waves are transverse waves and sound waves are longitudinal waves.
CLight waves can be diffracted but sound waves cannot.
DLight waves can travel in a vacuum but sound waves cannot.
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31Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 13 · Q22Show mark scheme →
AThe wave is longitudinal and has a period of 25 ms.
BThe wave is longitudinal and has a frequency of 50 Hz.
CThe wave is transverse and has an amplitude of 3 µm.
DThe wave is transverse and has a wavelength of 20 ms.
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32May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A
B
C
D
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33Feb / March 2019 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
APQ
BPS
CQR
DQS
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34May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
A
B
C
D
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35Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Aa light wave travelling through air
Ba radio wave from a broadcasting station
Ca ripple on the surface of water
Da sound wave travelling through air
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36May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AThe oscillations of the particles are parallel to the direction of travel of the wave energy.
BThey have a series of nodes and antinodes.
CThey need a medium through which to travel.
DThey transfer energy.
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