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Understanding Wave Types and Properties

The document explains the characteristics and types of waves, including transverse and longitudinal waves, along with key concepts such as amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period. It also covers wave behavior like reflection, refraction, and total internal reflection, as well as the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties of light. Additionally, it outlines an experiment to measure the speed of sound and the concept of color in relation to light waves.

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isobelrb1
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15 views3 pages

Understanding Wave Types and Properties

The document explains the characteristics and types of waves, including transverse and longitudinal waves, along with key concepts such as amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period. It also covers wave behavior like reflection, refraction, and total internal reflection, as well as the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties of light. Additionally, it outlines an experiment to measure the speed of sound and the concept of color in relation to light waves.

Uploaded by

isobelrb1
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Transverse waves

-​ Oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer


-​ E.g EM waves
-​ Crest, trough, amplitude, wavelength

Longitudinal waves
-​ Oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
-​ E.g sound
-​ Compression, rarefraction, wavelength

Amplitude
-​ Max displacement from equilibrium position

Wavelength
-​ Distance between two of the same point on a wave

Frequency
-​ The number of waves passing through a point per second
-​ High = shorter wavelength
-​ Hz (hertz)

Period (T)
-​ The amount of time taken for a full cycle of a wave to pass a point
-​ S (seconds)

Equation 1
-​ Frequency = 1 / time period
-​ Time period = 1 / frequency
-​ 1 = no. of waves

Equation 2
-​ Wave Speed = wavelength x frequency
-​ Wave speed = m/s
-​ Wavelength = m
-​ Frequency = Hz

Experiment speed of sound


1.​ Measure a long distance between two people using trundle wheel
2.​ One person makes a noise, the other sees and starts stopwatch
3.​ Stop timer when the sound is heard
4.​ Repeat (at least x3) and find an average
5.​ Speed = distance / time to calculate speed of sound

Waves can
-​ Absorb
-​ Transmit
-​ Reflect
Reflection
-​ Diffuse = uneven surface
-​ Specular = smooth surface

Ray diagram
-​ Incident ray​
-​ Reflected ray
-​ Normal
-​ Angle of incidence
-​ Angle of reflection
-​ I = R

Refraction
-​ Occurs when waves move from one medium to another
-​ Waves can change direction at a boundary between different media
-​ Doesn’t refract if it hits the boundary at 90 degrees
-​ Less dense to more dense = towards normal
-​ More dense to less dense = away from normal
-​ FAST - fast away, slow towards

Refraction diagram
-​ Normal
-​ Angle of incidence
-​ Angle of refraction
-​ Incident ray
-​ Refracted ray
-​ Emergent ray

Electromagnetic spectrum
-​ Radio Waves low frequency/energy long wavelength
-​ Microwaves
-​ Infrared
-​ Visible light
-​ Ultraviolet
-​ X-rays
-​ Gamma rays high frequency/energy short wavelength

-​ All transverse waves


-​ All travel at same speed (3 x 10^8) in vacuum

Colour
-​ Different wavelengths
-​ Different frequencies
-​ White light = every colour
-​ Black = absence of colour/light
-​ Colours we see are reflected all others are absorbed
-​ Filters only let through the colour that they are
Total internal reflection
-​ More dense to less dense
-​ Angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle

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