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VCE Year 11 Physics practice exams with worked answers
Study VCE Year 11 Physics with 8 topic note sets, 2 original practice exams and 8 topic tests with worked answers. These resources support school assessment. Preview a note section and worked question free.
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Light and electromagnetic waves
A wave is a disturbance that carries energy from one place to another without carrying matter along with it. Physicists sort waves into two broad families. Mechanical waves, such as sound, water ripples and waves on a slinky, need a…
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A wave is a disturbance that carries energy from one place to another without carrying matter along with it. Physicists sort waves into two broad families. Mechanical waves, such as sound, water ripples and waves on a slinky, need a material medium: particles of the medium push or pull on their neighbours, and the disturbance passes along. Sound cannot cross the vacuum of space because there are no particles to pass it on. Electromagnetic (EM) waves are different.
They consist of linked, oscillating electric and magnetic fields that regenerate each other, so they need no medium at all. Every EM wave, from radio to gamma, travels through a vacuum at the same speed, c = 3.0 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹.
EM waves are transverse: the electric and magnetic fields oscillate at right angles to the direction the wave travels (and at right angles to each other). In a longitudinal wave, such as sound, the particles vibrate back and forth parallel to the direction of travel, producing compressions and rarefactions.
Four quantities describe any periodic wave:
- Amplitude (A): the maximum displacement from the rest (equilibrium) position. Larger amplitude means more energy carried; for light it corresponds to brightness.
- Wavelength (λ): the distance between two successive points in phase, for example crest to crest. Measured in metres.
- Period (T): the time for one complete oscillation, in seconds.
- Frequency (f): the number of complete oscillations per second, in hertz (Hz). f = 1/T.
Because a wave moves forward one wavelength in each period, its speed is v = λ/T, which gives the wave equation v = fλ. For EM waves in a vacuum this becomes c = fλ.
A key idea is what sets each quantity. The frequency is fixed by the source: it is the rate at which the source oscillates, and it does not change when the wave passes into a new medium. The speed is fixed by the medium. The wavelength then adjusts to fit, λ = v/f. So when light passes from air into glass, it slows down, its frequency stays the same, and its wavelength becomes shorter.
When reading a displacement–distance graph you can read amplitude and wavelength; from a displacement–time graph you read amplitude and period. Students often mix these up, so always check the horizontal axis label first.
f = 104.3 × 10⁶ Hz, c = 3.0 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹.
λ = c/f = (3.0 × 10⁸)/(1.043 × 10⁸) = 2.88 m (about 2.9 m).
T = 1/f = 1/(1.043 × 10⁸) = 9.59 × 10⁻⁹ s (about 9.6 ns).
In air: λ = 3.0 × 10⁸ / 4.6 × 10¹⁴ = 6.5 × 10⁻⁷ m (650 nm).
In water the frequency is unchanged: λ = 2.25 × 10⁸ / 4.6 × 10¹⁴ = 4.9 × 10⁻⁷ m (489 nm). The wavelength shortens because the medium slowed the wave.
Which statement about EM waves is…
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- They are transverse and travel at c in a vacuum
- They are longitudinal and need a medium
- Higher-frequency EM waves travel faster in a vacuum
- They are mechanical vibrations of air
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Answer: A
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- Light and electromagnetic waves; Thermal energy and its interaction with radiation; Nuclear radiation and nuclear energy; Electricity, circuits and electrical safety; Motion and forces; Energy, momentum and equilibrium; Option: How does physics explain climate change?; Scientific investigation
- Light and electromagnetic waves; Thermal energy and its interaction with radiation; Nuclear radiation and nuclear energy; Electricity, circuits and electrical safety; Motion and forces; Energy, momentum and equilibrium; Option: How does physics explain climate change?; Scientific investigation
All 8 revision notes
- Light and electromagnetic waves
- Thermal energy and its interaction with radiation
- Nuclear radiation and nuclear energy
Show all 8 revision notes
- Electricity, circuits and electrical safety
- Motion and forces
- Energy, momentum and equilibrium
- Option: How does physics explain climate change?
- Scientific investigation
Common questions about VCE Physics
Is there a VCE Year 11 Physics practice exam with answers?
Yes. This Year 11 pack includes 2 original synoptic practice exams and 8 separate 20-mark topic tests, with worked solutions and marking guides. These are original practice materials, not official board examinations. Preview a sample note and worked question before buying.
Which curriculum version does the VCE Year 11 Physics pack cover?
The VCE Year 11 Physics pack follows the versions listed on its Official curriculum sources page. The course is expected to continue in 2027, but explicit 2027 confirmation is not recorded. Your school determines its assessment program and selected texts or topics. These are original study resources, not official board publications.
What is included in the VCE Year 11 Physics Mastery Pack?
Original practice exams with answer guides, worked questions, digital flashcards and revision notes for Physics. A sample note section and worked question are available free. The curriculum sources page links the official course documents. Preview the sample note, worked question and contents here. Paid resources unlock with a one-time purchase from $20, with access while the platform operates.
Where can I buy VCE Year 11 Physics notes and practice exams?
You can buy the VCE Year 11 Physics Mastery Pack here with a one-time payment. Preview a sample note, a worked question and the contents before buying. These are original school-study resources; the official curriculum documents are linked separately and are free to access.
Is the VCE Year 11 Physics Mastery Pack a subscription?
No. It is a single payment per subject with no renewal, and access continues while the platform operates. You can preview a sample note, a worked question and the full contents before paying.
More detail: the study design explained · official curriculum sources · all 8 Physics revision notes · Physics practice exams with worked solutions
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