Which Equation? Waves and Magnetism

✏️ Paper first! Work out every question on paper before you tap Show solution. Write down every step – the equation, the numbers with units, the rearranging and the answer with its unit. In the exam, if your final answer is wrong you can still get marks for correct working, but only if the examiner can see it.

For each question: list what you know, decide which equation to use, then use FIFA. The solution starts by showing how to pick the equation. Speed of electromagnetic waves = 3.0 × 108 m/s.

Q1 (F) A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 0.40 m. Calculate its speed.

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Which equation? Know frequency and wavelength → v = fλ
I: v = 50 × 0.40
A: 20 m/s

Q2 (F) A wave has a frequency of 25 Hz. Calculate its period.

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Which equation? Frequency and period → T = 1 / f
I: T = 1 ÷ 25
A: 0.040 s

Q3 (F) Sound travels at 340 m/s. A note has a frequency of 170 Hz. Calculate its wavelength.

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Which equation? Know speed and frequency → v = fλ
I: 340 = 170 × λ
F: λ = 340 ÷ 170
A: 2.0 m

Q4 (F) A wave has a period of 0.020 s. Calculate its frequency.

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Which equation? → T = 1 / f
I: 0.020 = 1 ÷ f
F: f = 1 ÷ 0.020
A: 50 Hz

Q5 (F/H, S only) A lens forms an image 12 mm tall of an object 4.0 mm tall. Calculate the magnification.

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Which equation? Image and object heights → magnification = image height ÷ object height
I: magnification = 12 ÷ 4.0
A: 3 (no units)

Q6 (F/H) A radio station broadcasts at 1.0 × 108 Hz. Calculate the wavelength.

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Which equation? Electromagnetic wave, know speed and frequency → v = fλ
I: 3.0 × 108 = 1.0 × 108 × λ
A: 3.0 m

Q7 (F/H) Ultrasound travels through tissue at 1500 m/s with a wavelength of 0.75 mm. Calculate its frequency.

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Which equation? → v = fλ
Convert: 0.75 mm = 0.00075 m
I: 1500 = f × 0.00075
F: f = 1500 ÷ 0.00075
A: 2.0 × 106 Hz

Q8 (H) A 0.20 m length of wire carrying 3.0 A is at right angles to a magnetic field of 0.50 T. Calculate the force on the wire.

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Which equation? Current in a magnetic field → F = BIl
I: F = 0.50 × 3.0 × 0.20
A: 0.30 N

Q9 (H) A 15 cm wire carrying 2.0 A feels a force of 0.12 N in a magnetic field. Calculate the magnetic flux density.

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Which equation? → F = BIl
Convert: 15 cm = 0.15 m
I: 0.12 = B × 2.0 × 0.15
F: B = 0.12 ÷ 0.30
A: 0.40 T

Q10 (H, S only) A transformer has 1000 turns on the primary coil and 50 turns on the secondary. The primary p.d. is 230 V. Calculate the secondary p.d.

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Which equation? Turns and p.d. → Vₚ / Vₛ = nₚ / nₛ
I: 230 ÷ Vₛ = 1000 ÷ 50
F: Vₛ = 230 × 50 ÷ 1000
A: 11.5 V

Q11 (H, S only) A 100% efficient transformer has a primary p.d. of 230 V and a primary current of 0.50 A. The secondary p.d. is 12 V. Calculate the secondary current, to 2 s.f.

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Which equation? Currents, no turns given, 100% efficient → VₚIₚ = VₛIₛ
I: 230 × 0.50 = 12 × Iₛ
F: Iₛ = 115 ÷ 12 = 9.58…
A: 9.6 A

Q12 (H) Microwaves in an oven have a wavelength of 12 cm. Calculate their frequency, in standard form.

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Which equation? Electromagnetic wave → v = fλ
Convert: 12 cm = 0.12 m
I: 3.0 × 108 = f × 0.12
F: f = 3.0 × 108 ÷ 0.12
A: 2.5 × 109 Hz