Question 1

Paper 2Medium8 marks

A laboratory compares a piezoelectric transducer producing sound in water with an antenna emitting electromagnetic radiation into a vacuum. Both waves have a frequency of 2.00×106 Hz2.00\times10^6\ \mathrm{Hz}

The speed of sound in water is 1.50×103 m s−11.50\times10^3\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}} The speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is 3.00×108 m s−13.00\times10^8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}

(a)

Calculate the wavelength of the sound wave in water.

[2]
(b)

Calculate the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave and, using the approximate wavelength orders of magnitude in the data booklet, identify its region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

[3]
(c)

Using your answers to (a) and (b), determine the ratio λelectromagnetic/λsound\lambda_{\text{electromagnetic}}/\lambda_{\text{sound}}

[1]
(d)

The two signals are directed across an evacuated region towards detectors. State which signal can cross the region and explain your answer with reference to the nature of each wave.

[2]

More C.2 Wave model questions