Waves
Stationary Waves
Lenses
Wave Properties
Wave Equations
Frequency
Speed
Wavelength
Amplitude
Period
Convex
Concave
standing wave, also called stationary wave, combination of two waves moving in opposite directions, each having the same amplitude and frequency. The phenomenon is the result of interference; that is, when waves are superimposed, their energies are either added together or canceled out.
A wave’s maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.
The length of one whole oscillation.
Th E-number of complete oscillations passing through a point per second.
Th distance travelled by th wave per unit time.
The time taken for one full oscillation.
Types of waves
Transverse
Longitudinal
In longitudinal waves, the oscillation of particles is parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
-These are made up of compressions and rarefactions and can’t travel in a vacuum.
-Sound is an example of a longitudinal wave, and they can be demonstrated by pushing a slinky horizontally.
In transverse waves, the oscillations of particles is at right angles to the direction of energy transfer.
-All electromagnetic waves are transverse and travel at 3x10^8 ms^-1 in a vacuum.
-transverse waves ça;be demonstrated by shaking a slinky vertically or through the waves seen on a string, when it’s attached to a signal generator.
Phase:
the position of a certain point on a wave cycle. This can be measured in radians, degrees or fractions of a cycle.
Phase difference:
how much a particle/wave lags behind another particle/wave. This can be measured in radians, degrees or fraction of a cycle.
Path difference:
the differnce in the distance travelled by two waves.
Supperposition:
where the displacement of two waves are combined as they pass each other, the resultant displacement is the vector sum of each wave’s displacement.
Coherence:
a coherent light source has the same frequency and wavelength and a fixed phase difference.
Wavefront:
a wavefront is a surface which is used to represent the points of a wave which have the same phase.
Interference
Constructive:
this occurs when two waves ar in phase and so their displacements are added
Destructive:
this occurs when the waves are completely out of phase and so their displacements added together equal zero.
Wave speed = wave length x frequency
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