General properties of waves

What the syllabus asks of you

• 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 λ
• 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 continued Core Supplement
• 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: 9 Describe how wavelength and gap size affects (a) reflection at a plane surface diffraction through a gap (b) refraction due to a change of speed (c) diffraction through a narrow gap
• Describe the use of a ripple tank to show: 10 Describe how wavelength affects diffraction at (a) reflection at a plane surface an edge (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