Sound: past paper questions
Real questions on sound
The newest 20 of 62 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0625/41 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[1]
State the value of the speed of sound in air and state how the speed of sound in water differs from the speed of sound in air. speed of sound in air m / s
See it on the paper → - 0625/41 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[3]
State and explain if humans with normal hearing can hear all the sounds emitted by the dolphin. statement explanation
See it on the paper → - 0625/41 · October/November 2025 · Q5c[2]
Complete Table 5.1 to describe differences in loudness and pitch of two different dolphin sounds. Table 5.1 Frequency / kHz amplitude 14 large 8 small loudness pitch
See it on the paper → - 0625/41 · October/November 2025 · Q5d[3]
Complete the sentences to describe how sound is transmitted through water. Sound waves are made of vibrating which produce compressions and rarefactions. A compression is a region of and a rarefaction is a region of . The sound waves travel
See it on the paper → - 0625/33 · May/June 2025 · Q7a[2]
Place ticks (✓) in Table 7.1 to show the properties of sound waves and of microwaves. Table 7.1 property sound waves microwaves longitudinal transverse travel in a vacuum electromagnetic
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2025 · Q5a[12]
Describe an experiment to determine the speed of sound in air. State the apparatus required, the measurements taken and how to calculate the speed of sound in air from the measurements. You may draw a labelled diagram as part of your answer.
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · May/June 2025 · Q6a[1]
Define the term ultrasound.
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · May/June 2025 · Q6b[1]
Describe what is meant by a longitudinal wave.
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · May/June 2025 · Q6c(i)[3]
Describe how ultrasound is used to locate an object below the surface of the sea. You may draw a labelled diagram as part of your answer.
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · May/June 2025 · Q6c(ii)[1]
State one other use of ultrasound.
See it on the paper → - 0625/32 · February/March 2025 · Q8b[2]
State the normal frequency range of sounds that humans can hear. Give the unit. from to
See it on the paper → - 0625/32 · February/March 2025 · Q8c[1]
Two students determine a value for the speed of sound in air. Fig. 8.2 illustrates the method they use. metal plates clash together stopwatch metal plates 60 m Fig. 8.2 (Not to scale) The girl starts the stopwatch when she sees the metal plates clash together. She stops the stopwatch when she hears the sound of the cla...
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2025 · Q7b(i)[2]
Show that the wavelength of the sound is approximately 0.9 m. State any equation you use in words or symbols.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2025 · Q7b(ii)[2]
Calculate the time it takes for sound to travel to the ship from the foghorn. time =
See it on the paper → - 0625/12 · October/November 2024 · Q23[1]
What happens to sound waves to cause an echo and what is the nature of sound waves?
See it on the paper → - 0625/33 · October/November 2024 · Q4b(iii)[1]
The stop-watch has a bell. When the bell rings, energy is transferred to the surroundings as energy.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2024 · Q6a(i)[2]
On Fig. 6.1: • • label one point C to indicate a compression label one point R to indicate a rarefaction.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2024 · Q6a(ii)[1]
Explain why this graph cannot be used to find the wavelength of the sound wave.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2024 · Q6a(iii)[1]
The sound becomes louder and of lower pitch. State what happens to: the frequency of the sound. the amplitude of the sound ,
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2024 · Q6b[3]
A sound of frequency 13 kHz is transmitted through water. The speed of sound in water is 1500 m / s. Calculate the wavelength of this sound in water. wavelength =
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Most candidates correctly gave one tick per line and knew that sound is longitudinal and that microwaves are electromagnetic waves. Knowledge of the other properties was less secure.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0625/33 Q7(a) (Cambridge)
Many candidates attempted to describe a suitable method for determining the speed of sound in air. The echo method was used by the majority of candidates. Most candidates also correctly stated that the calculation required the use of v = s ÷ t. Stronger answers stated a suitable distance for the sound to travel, gave a suitable method of producing a short, loud sound, gave details of accurate timi...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0625/42 Q5(a) (Cambridge)
Stronger candidates gave a correct definition of ultrasound as a sound with a frequency higher than 20 kHz. Some candidates misunderstood the question and stated the type of wave or stated a use of ultrasound. Weaker candidates stated the frequency was high without reference to 20 kHz.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0625/43 Q6(a) (Cambridge)
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