Unit 3: Wave Behaviour
Topic 3.4: Standing Waves and Resonance Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB Physics SL Topic 3.4. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1State1 mark
2026
State what is meant by a node on a standing wave.
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Unlock Question2Determine2 marks
On a vibrating guitar string a standing wave is photographed.
The distance from one node to the next node along the string is measured as 0.18 m.
Determine the wavelength of the wave on the string.
The distance from one node to the next node along the string is measured as 0.18 m.
Determine the wavelength of the wave on the string.
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Unlock Question3Explain2 marks
2025
A loudspeaker sends sound into a tube closed at the far end, and a loud steady note builds up.
Explain, by reference to the principle of superposition, why a standing wave forms in the tube.
Explain, by reference to the principle of superposition, why a standing wave forms in the tube.
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2025
Which describes a lightly damped system rather than a heavily damped one?
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2025
In an ultrasonic cleaning bath, dirt is removed best at evenly spaced places along the bath.
Outline how this pattern forms.
Outline how this pattern forms.
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2025
Salt is sprinkled on a metal plate that vibrates in a standing-wave pattern. The salt gathers along a set of lines.
Outline why.
Outline why.
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State what is meant by **resonance**, and state what is meant by the **first harmonic** of a vibrating string.
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2025
A pendulum swinging in air is lightly damped.
Which statement about it is correct?
Which statement about it is correct?
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2025
A pipe open at both ends sounds its second harmonic.
Draw the standing-wave pattern of air displacement in the pipe.
Draw the standing-wave pattern of air displacement in the pipe.
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Unlock Question10Identify1 mark
2025
A mass on a spring oscillates in air and is lightly damped.
Which statement about its oscillations is correct?
Which statement about its oscillations is correct?
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2025
Microwaves from a transmitter strike a metal plate head-on, and a detector moved between them finds fixed points of zero signal.
Explain, by reference to the principle of superposition, why this happens.
Explain, by reference to the principle of superposition, why this happens.
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2025
A guitar string is plucked and vibrates in a steady pattern.
Explain, by reference to the principle of superposition, why a standing wave forms on the string.
Explain, by reference to the principle of superposition, why a standing wave forms on the string.
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Unlock Question13Outline2 marks
2025
Fine powder lies along the bottom of a horizontal tube in which a sound standing wave is set up. The powder gathers into small heaps.
Outline why.
Outline why.
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2025
A string fixed at both ends vibrates in its second harmonic.
Draw the standing-wave pattern on the string.
Draw the standing-wave pattern on the string.
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2025
Small folded paper riders sit along a string that is set vibrating in a standing wave. Some riders fall off and some stay.
Outline where the riders stay and why.
Outline where the riders stay and why.
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2025
A pipe closed at one end sounds its first harmonic.
Draw the standing-wave pattern of air displacement in the pipe.
Draw the standing-wave pattern of air displacement in the pipe.
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2025
A struck tuning fork is lightly damped as its sound dies away.
What happens to its frequency and its amplitude as time passes?
What happens to its frequency and its amplitude as time passes?
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2025
A loudspeaker faces a hard wall and plays a steady note. Walking between them, you hear loud and quiet places that stay fixed.
Outline how this pattern forms.
Outline how this pattern forms.
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2025
An industrial microwave dryer has a metal back wall. Wet cloth on a stationary rack dries in a row of evenly spaced patches.
Outline how this pattern forms.
Outline how this pattern forms.
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Describe two ways in which a standing wave differs from a travelling wave.
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