Waves

• How do waves travel?

  waves travel by oscillating (vibrating)
• what does amplitude mean?


  amplitude is the maximum displacement- height from the equilibrium to the top of the wave
• what does frequency mean?

  frequency is the number of waves passing a fixed point per second
• What does wavelength mean?

  wavelength is the distance between one point on a wave and the equal point of next wave
• what are the oscillation in transverse waves?

  The oscillation of transverse waves are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
• what direction do transverse waves travel in?

  transverse waves travel in one direction (left to right)
• what are the oscillations of longitudinal waves?

  longtitudinal waves are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
• what direction do longtitudinal waves travel in and what does this cause?

  Longtitudinal waves travel by oscillating back and forth- this creates areas of compression and rarefraction
• RQ: describe the three main methods of conducting the waves in a ripple tank experiment?

  vibrating bar in tank connected to power pack

  As bar vibrates it creates waves on the water surface

  Light shone of tank with paper underneath- waves appear on paper
• how do you calculate wavespeed?

  Wavespeed= frequency x wavelength
• RQ: how do you calculate wavelength in this practical?

  Ruler next to paper and freeze wave image

  Calculate the distance of 10 wavelength

  Then divide by 10 to get one wavelength
• RQ: how do we calculate frequency of waves in this pratical?

  Timer next to paper and calculate the number of waves passing a fixed point for 10 seconds

  Then divide by 10 to get the frequency of one wave
• What type of waves are electromagnetic waves?

  Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves as the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
• what speed do electromagnetic waves travel at through a vaccum?

  Electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed of:

  3 x 10^8 m/s
• what happens when (electromagnetic) waves travel through different mediums?

  As (electromagnetic) waves travel through different medJim’s their speed changes

  This cause refraction