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Science · Physics

Waves, Light and Sound

Wave properties — wavelength, frequency, amplitude — and how they explain reflection, refraction, and pitch. Nearly every calculation here comes back to one equation: wave speed equals wavelength times frequency. Every question comes with a written walkthrough of the relationship used.

Practise waves, light and sound nowSee sample questions
3
Difficulty tiers
30s
Target pace
53%
Average first-attempt score

What's covered

  • Wave properties — identify wavelength (distance between repeating points), frequency (cycles per second), amplitude (maximum displacement), and how they relate through v = fλ.
  • Transverse vs. longitudinal waves — distinguish transverse waves, where particles move perpendicular to the wave's direction (like light), from longitudinal waves, where particles move parallel to it (like sound).
  • Reflection and refraction — apply the law of reflection (angle of incidence equals angle of reflection), and recognize that refraction bends a wave as it changes speed entering a new medium.
  • The electromagnetic spectrum and pitch — order the electromagnetic spectrum by wavelength and frequency, and connect a sound wave's frequency to the pitch it's perceived as.
  • Frequency, wavelength, and speed — recognize that for a wave traveling at a fixed speed, frequency and wavelength are inversely related — a higher frequency means a shorter wavelength.

Where students lose marks

Confusing amplitude with wavelength

Amplitude measures a wave's height (its energy or intensity), while wavelength measures the distance between repeating points — changing one doesn't necessarily change the other.

Assuming frequency changes when a wave changes medium

When a wave enters a new medium, its speed and wavelength change, but its frequency stays fixed — frequency is set by the source that created the wave, not by whatever medium it's currently traveling through.

Mixing up transverse and longitudinal waves

In a transverse wave the particles move perpendicular to the wave's travel direction; in a longitudinal wave they move parallel to it, compressing and expanding — sound is longitudinal even though it's often drawn as a transverse-looking squiggle for simplicity.

Three sample questions

Straight from the bank — one per difficulty tier. Reveal the answer to see the explanation you'd get in a real session.

Sample 01Foundation

A wave has a frequency of 5 Hz and a wavelength of 2 meters. What is its speed?

Sample 02Core

A sound wave travels from air into water, where it speeds up significantly. What happens to its frequency and wavelength?

Sample 03Advanced

A wave traveling at 340 m/s has a wavelength of 0.85 m. If the wave's frequency is doubled while its speed stays the same, what is the new wavelength?

How to practise this

Wave problems reward knowing which quantity stays fixed when a wave changes medium — frequency is set by the source and never changes, which is the one fact most of these questions hinge on.

Identify what stays constant before solving

For every wave problem, name whether frequency, wavelength, or speed is fixed before applying v = fλ. Untimed practice is where that identification gets fast.

Then 30 seconds a question

Move to timed sessions once the wave-speed equation and its inverse relationships are instant recall.

Fold into a mock

Pair waves, light, and sound with electricity and magnetism in a mock — light itself is an electromagnetic wave connecting the two subtopics directly.

Stop guessing what changes.
Start naming what stays fixed.

  • A relationship walkthrough on every item
  • Timed or untimed sessions, any length you like
  • Tracked separately — see your accuracy and pace on waves, light, and sound over time
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