# A teacher demonstrates how waves behave by sending pulses along a long slinky spring stretched across the classroom floor. The teacher moves one end of the spring repeatedly from side to side at a steady rate. Describe the wave produced, explaining the meaning of frequency, wavelength, and wave speed, and state how these three quantities are related.

> Eduqas A-Level Physics — 3.1 Wave properties · Describe · 5 marks

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. The wave produced is a transverse wave, where the oscillations (vibrations) are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel/energy transfer.
2. Frequency is the number of complete waves (oscillations/cycles) produced per second.
3. Wavelength is the distance between two successive points that are in phase / the length of one complete wave (e.g. crest to crest or trough to trough).
4. Wave speed is the distance travelled by the wave per second / the speed at which the wave pattern moves through the medium.
5. Wave speed equals frequency multiplied by wavelength (v = f × λ).

## Key terms

- [frequency](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/frequency)
- [wavelength](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/wavelength)
- [wave speed](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/wave-speed)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas A-Level Physics](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-teacher-demonstrates-how-waves-behave-3f689c2a) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.