3.1 General properties of waves
CORE OBJECTIVES:
- Know that waves transfer energy without transferring matter
- Describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibrations in ropes and springs, and by experiments using water waves
- Describe the features of a wave in terms of wavefront, wavelength, frequency, crest (peak), trough, amplitude and wave speed
- Recall and use the equation for wave speed v = f ?
- Know that for a transverse wave, the direction of vibration is at right angles to the direction of propagation and understand that electromagnetic radiation, water waves and seismic S-waves (secondary) can be modelled as transverse
- Know that for a longitudinal wave, the direction of vibration is parallel to the direction of propagation and understand that sound waves and seismic P-waves (primary) can be modelled as longitudinal
- Describe how waves can undergo:
- (a) reflection at a plane surface
- (b) refraction due to a change of speed
- (c) diffraction through a narrow gap
- Describe the use of a ripple tank to show:
- (a) reflection at a plane surface
- (b) refraction due to a change in speed caused by a change in depth
- (c) diffraction due to a gap (d) diffraction due to an edge
EXTENDED/SUPPLEMENT OBJECTIVES:
- Describe how wavelength and gap size affects diffraction through a gap
- Describe how wavelength affects diffraction at an edge
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