Topic 9: Waves Motion

Guiding Questions

  • What are waves? How can we study and describe such motion?
  • How can oscillatory motion be related to wave motion?
  • What do different types of waves have in common, and how are they different?

Learning Outcomes

Progressive waves
a) show an understanding and use the terms displacement, amplitude, period, frequency, phase difference, wavelength and speed.
(b) deduce, from the definitions of speed, frequency and wavelength, the equation v equals f lambda
(c) recall and use the equation v equals f lambda
(d) show an understanding that energy is transferred due to a progressive wave.
(e) recall and use the relationship, intensity alpha left parenthesis a m p l i t u d e right parenthesis squared.
(f) show an understanding of and apply the concept that wave from a point source and travelling without loss of energy obeys an inverse square law to solve problems.

Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
(g) analyse and interpret graphical representations of transverse and longitudinal waves.

Polarisation
(h) show an understanding that polarisation is a phenomenon associated with transverse waves.
(i) recall and use Malus’law (intensity alpha cos squared straight theta ) to calculate the amplitude and intensity of a plane polarised electromagnetic wave after transmission through a polarising filter.
Determination of frequency and wavelength of sound waves
(j) determine the frequency of sound using a calibrated oscilloscope.
(k) determine the wavelength of sound using stationary waves.*