IGCSE Physics: Oscilloscope Traces — Finding Frequency | FREE Worksheet | Edexcel Modular | Unit 5 |

A free print-ready worksheet covering spec points 5.6, 5.7, 5.26P and 5.27P — using an oscilloscope trace and the time-base setting to determine the period and frequency of a sound wave.

Students consistently lose marks here by counting peaks instead of divisions per cycle, or by forgetting to convert the time-base into seconds. This worksheet drills both, using nine purpose-drawn oscilloscope screens rather than generic sine curves.

Worksheet includes:

Formula box: T = n × t and f = 1 / T
Nine oscilloscope traces (A–H plus a stretch), each drawn on a proper 10 × 6 division screen with minor gridlines, and each with its own time-base setting and answer lines
A deliberate difficulty progression — whole-division reads, a trace showing five cycles, a trace showing only one cycle, a half-division read, and two microsecond time-bases
Stretch question requiring frequency, then wavelength using v = fλ, then a judgement on whether the sound falls inside the 20 Hz – 20 000 Hz audible range
Full mark scheme with method marks shown for every trace
23 marks total, two pages of questions plus a separate mark scheme page

Answers range from 20 Hz to 25 kHz, so no two traces share a value — useful if you want students comparing work.

Specification: Edexcel International GCSE Physics (Modular) — Unit 5: Waves, spec points 5.6, 5.7, 5.26P–5.27P (Physics only)
Year group: Year 10 / Year 11
Also suitable for: AQA, OCR and Cambridge IGCSE sound and waves topics — the skill is identical across boards.