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Leaving Cert Physics: Resonance

How often Resonance comes up on the Physics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

OL Asked on 8 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Physics course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Resonance, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Resonance.

(a)Formula for the fundamental frequency of a stretched string?
  1. f = (1/l)√(μ/T)
  2. f = (1/2l)√(T/μ)
  3. f = 2l√(T/μ)
(b)The tension in a stretched string is made four times larger. Its fundamental frequency is?
  1. Halved
  2. Quadrupled
  3. Doubled
(c)Which of these is an example of resonance?
  1. A wine glass shattering when a singer holds the right note
  2. A rainbow forming when sunlight passes through drops of rain
  3. An echo returning from a cliff face a second later
Show the answers

(a) f = (1/2l)√(T/μ)

(b) Doubled

(c) A wine glass shattering when a singer holds the right note

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Resonance.

Higher Level

Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q9
2025Q3, Q6(h)
2024Q4, Q6(f)
2023Q8
2022Q4, Q11
2021Q3, Q6(f)
2019Q10
2018Q7
2017Q2
2016Q2, Q5(e)

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Resonance questions

Resonance, 3 marks

Define resonance.

  1. The gradual loss of energy from a vibrating body, so that the amplitude of its vibration falls over time
  2. The reflection of a wave back along its own path, so that nodes and antinodes form at fixed points
  3. The transfer of energy so that a body vibrates at its natural frequency when a nearby body vibrates at the same frequency
Show the answer

The transfer of energy so that a body vibrates at its natural frequency when a nearby body vibrates at the same frequency

Energy transfers most efficiently when the driving frequency equals the natural frequency, so the amplitude builds up. Damping is the opposite effect.

Resonance, 2 marks

How is a stationary wave formed on a stretched string?

  1. Two waves of different frequencies travel in the same direction
  2. Two waves of the same frequency travelling in opposite directions interfere
  3. A single wave travels along without reflecting
Show the answer

Two waves of the same frequency travelling in opposite directions interfere

A wave reflects from the fixed end and meets the incoming wave. They superpose to give fixed nodes and antinodes: a stationary wave.

Resonance, 2 marks

The vibrating length of a stretched string is doubled and the tension is unchanged. What happens to the fundamental frequency?

  1. It halves
  2. It doubles
  3. It does not change
Show the answer

It halves

f = (1/2l)√(T/μ), so f ∝ 1/l. Double the length and the frequency halves, giving a note one octave lower.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 8 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q3, Q14(b)
2025Not asked
2024Q4, Q10
2023Q4, Q10
2022Q3, Q10
2021Q14(d)
2019Not asked
2018Q3
2017Q5(g)
2016Q3

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Resonance questions

Resonance, 2 marks

Two tuning forks have the same frequency. One is struck and held near the other. What happens?

  1. The first fork stops at once
  2. Nothing happens to the second fork
  3. The second fork starts to vibrate
Show the answer

The second fork starts to vibrate

The sound from the first fork is at the natural frequency of the second, so energy is passed on and it vibrates. This is resonance.

Resonance, 2 marks

What is a node on a stationary wave?

  1. The point where the wave is first produced
  2. A point where the displacement is always zero
  3. A point where the displacement is always largest
Show the answer

A point where the displacement is always zero

A node never moves. The points of largest vibration, halfway between nodes, are called antinodes.

Resonance, 3 marks

Distance between two neighbouring nodes on a stationary wave?

  1. Half a wavelength
  2. One wavelength
  3. A quarter of a wavelength
Show the answer

Half a wavelength

Nodes are λ/2 apart. A node to the next antinode is λ/4.

Other Physics topics

All of Leaving Cert Physics