Grade 10 Physical Sciences · Paper 1 (Physics)

Waves, Sound and Light Grade 10

Real past paper questions and answers from 2022 to 2024, with each memo split into the ticks examiners give. Try one, mark yourself, and see exactly which skill cost you marks.

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Question 1.1 · November 2023 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks

1.1 The maximum displacement of a particle from its equilibrium position is ...(2)

A period.
B amplitude.
C wavelength.
D frequency.

Work it out on paper first. Then mark yourself with the official memo, one tick at a time.

What's in Waves, Sound and Light Grade 10

Each skill is one thing a memo gives a tick for. Tap a skill for its own questions, notes and videos.

Transverse Pulses on a String or Spring7 past paper questions

Transverse Waves26 past paper questions

Longitudinal Waves26 past paper questions

Sound17 past paper questions

Electromagnetic Radiation19 past paper questions

More Waves, Sound and Light Grade 10 questions and answers

Try each one on paper before you open the memo.

1. Question 6.3.1 · November 2024 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 3 marks
A stationary listener, standing on the roadside, records the wavelength of the sound emitted by the siren of a police car travelling at a constant velocity.

In the wavelength-time graph below, NOT drawn to scale, $λ_{L}$ is the wavelength of the sound recorded by the listener and $λ_{S}$ is the wavelength of the sound emitted by the siren.

Take the speed of sound in air to be $343$ m·s $^{- 1}$ .
6.3 Calculate the:
6.3.1 Frequency of the sound emitted by the siren(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Formula $v = f λ$
  1 mark · Use the wave equation
2. ✓
  Substitution $343 = f (0, 38)$
  1 mark · Use the wave equation
3. ✓
  Answer $f = 902, 63$ Hz
  1 mark · Use the wave equation
2. Question 1.5 · November 2022 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks
Four options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer.
1.5 The number of sound vibrations per second is the:(2)
1. A Period
2. B Frequency
3. C Amplitude
4. D Wavelength
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Choose the correct optionFrequency is the number of vibrations (waves) per second, measured in hertz (Hz). The period is the time for ONE vibration.
  
  Answer: B
  2 marks · Define wave terms
3. Question WE3 · Siyavula Grade 10 Physical Sciences, 11.5 Particle-like nature of EM radiation, Worked example 3 · 3 marks
WE3 Calculate the energy of a photon with a frequency of $3 \times 1 0^{18}$ Hz.(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Formula $E = h f$
  1 mark · Calculate photon energy
2. ✓
  Substitution $E = (6, 63 \times 1 0^{- 34} J \cdotp s) (3 \times 1 0^{18} Hz)$
  1 mark · Calculate photon energy
3. ✓
  Answer $E = 2 \times 1 0^{- 15}$ J
  1 mark · Calculate photon energy
4. Question 6.2 · May/June 2022 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 3 marks
A car moves at a constant speed of $10$ m·s $^{- 1}$ TOWARDS a stationary sound source. The sound source emits sound waves of frequency $880$ Hz.

A sound detector A is attached to the car and another sound detector B is attached to the sound source. Detector B detects the sound waves reflected from the car, as shown in the diagram below.

The speed of sound in air is $340$ m·s $^{- 1}$ .
6.2 Calculate the wavelength of the sound waves emitted by the source.(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Formula $v = f λ$
  1 mark · Use the wave equation
2. ✓
  Substitution $340 = (880) λ$
  1 mark · Use the wave equation
3. ✓
  Answer with unit $λ = 0, 39$ m ( $0, 386$ )
  1 mark · Use the wave equation
5. Question 6.1 · November 2022 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks
The diagram represents the pattern of waves with frequency $30$ Hz, moving from the left to right.
6.1 Define the term transverse wave.(2)
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Definition of a transverse waveA wave where the movement of particles of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.
  2 marks · Define wave terms

Waves, Sound and Light Grade 10 videos

Short lessons from South African teachers first. Videos load only when you tap play, to save your data.

2) Superposition Principle Grade 10Kevinmathscience

Grade 10 Transverse waves Exam question WavelengthMiss Martins Maths and Science

Grade 10 Physics Wave SpeedMiss Martins Maths and Science

Loudness and Pitch: Grade 10 Waves and LightMindset

Grade 10 Electromagnetic Radiation Physics: IntroductionMiss Martins Maths and Science

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