O Level Combined Science 5129 · Topic 25

Waves: past paper questions

103 real questionsasked in 8 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: State, Calculate, Use, Explain, Describe

Real questions on waves

The newest 20 of 52 written questions, plus 51 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.

5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q12b[4]
The lighted candle emits radiation with a wavelength of 12 × 10 –6 m. The speed of light in air is approximately 3.0 × 10 8 m / s. Calculate the frequency of this radiation. The wavelength and the speed are given in standard form. Give your answer in standard form. frequency = Hz
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q15b(i)[2]
State two other similarities between radio waves and microwaves.
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q15b(ii)[1]
Describe one difference between radio waves and microwaves.
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q15c[1]
Light is also used in communications. Rays of light are carried by optical fibres made from glass. The speed of light in glass is 2.0 × 10 8 m / s. Show that, in glass, light travels a distance of 90 km in a time of 450 μs.
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q12b[2]
Light is a transverse wave. Complete the sentence to describe what is meant by a transverse wave. The direction of is perpendicular to the
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q12c[1]
State one use of visible light.
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5129/21 · October/November 2024 · Q11a[2]
Region A is shallower than region B. The wave changes direction as it moves from region A to region B. The frequency of the wave stays the same. crests new wave direction original wave direction region B region A Fig. 11.1 Describe what happens to the wavelength and to the speed of the wave as it moves from region A to...
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5129/21 · October/November 2024 · Q11b(i)[1]
State the wave term for the maximum height of the wave above its mean position at Y.
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5129/21 · October/November 2024 · Q11b(ii)[3]
Explain how the movement of water at Y is used to produce electrical power in the machine at Z.
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5129/22 · October/November 2024 · Q14a[2]
All of the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum have useful applications. Fig. 14.1 shows three of these regions and three applications. On Fig. 14.1, draw one straight line from each region to its application. region application radio television communication ultraviolet medical imaging X-ray sterilising water You...
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5129/22 · October/November 2024 · Q14b[1]
Ultraviolet and X-ray radiations are ionising. State one other region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is ionising.
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5129/22 · May/June 2024 · Q16a[1]
Complete the sentence: Light from the lamp travels to an object and then from the surface of the object back to the phone camera.
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5129/22 · October/November 2023 · Q10a[1]
State the name of the region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is used by mobile phones.
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5129/22 · October/November 2023 · Q10b(i)[1]
State the approximate speed of electromagnetic radiation in air.
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5129/22 · October/November 2023 · Q10b(ii)[2]
Using your answer to (b)(i), calculate the wavelength, in metres, of the phone signals. wavelength = m
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5129/21 · May/June 2023 · Q10a[2]
Choose two words from the list to complete the sentence about waves. amplitude energy light matter sound Waves transfer without transferring .
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5129/21 · May/June 2023 · Q10b(i)[1]
Use information in Fig. 10.1 to calculate the wavelength of the wave. wavelength = m
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5129/21 · May/June 2023 · Q10b(ii)[2]
The student produces 1.2 waves per second. Calculate the speed of the wave in the rope. speed = m / s
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5129/22 · May/June 2023 · Q11a(ii)[1]
On Fig. 11.1 draw a double headed arrow ( sound wave. ) to show one wavelength of the
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5129/22 · May/June 2023 · Q11b(i)[1]
On Fig. 11.2 draw the reflected ray.
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What examiners said

Few candidates recalled that mobile phones use microwaves. A common error was to state radio waves.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/22 Q10(a) (Cambridge)

Many candidates knew the speed of electromagnetic radiation in metres per second.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/22 Q10(b)(i) (Cambridge)

As with Question 4 (b)(i) many candidates could not recall the equation, in this case v = fλ. A common error was to use w in place of v and since this can be confused with wavelength it does not gain credit.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/22 Q10(b)(ii) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

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In the syllabus

25.1 General properties of waves

Know that waves transfer energy without transferring matter
Describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibrations in ropes and springs and by experiments using water waves
Define the terms: (a) frequency as the number of wavelengths that pass a point per unit time (b) wavelength as the distance between two consecutive, identical points such as two consecutive crests (c) amplitude as the maximum distance from the mean position
Recall and use the equation wave speed = frequency × wavelength v = fλ
Know that for a transverse wave, the direction of vibration is at right-angles to the direction of the energy transfer, and give examples such as electromagnetic radiation, waves on the surface of water, and seismic S-waves (secondary)
Know that for a longitudinal wave, the direction of vibration is parallel to the direction of the energy transfer, and give examples such as sound waves, seismic P-waves (primary) and longitudinal waves in compressed helical springs e.g. slinky toys

25.2 Light

Define and use the terms normal, angle of incidence and angle of reflection
Describe and be able to do experiments to illustrate the law of reflection
State that for reflection, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection and use this in constructions, measurements and calculations Define and use the terms normal, angle of incidence and angle of refraction Describe and be able to do experiments to show refraction of light by transparent blocks of different shapes (refraction through lenses is not required)

25.3 Electromagnetic spectrum

Know the main regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of frequency and in order of wavelength
Know that the speed of all electromagnetic waves in: (a) a vacuum is 3.0 × 108 m / s (b) air is approximately the same as in a vacuum
Describe the role of the following regions in the stated applications: (a) radio waves – radio and television communications (b) microwaves –mobile (cell) phone, Bluetooth, microwave ovens (c) infrared – household electrical appliances, remote controllers, thermal imaging (d) visible light –photography, vision (e) ultraviolet – security marking and sterilising water (f) X-rays – hospital use in medical imaging, security scanners, killing cancerous cells (g) gamma rays – medical treatment in detecting and killing cancerous cells, sterilising food and medical equipment, engineering applications such as detecting cracks in metal

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