Chapter 13 Waves content page

1. Transverse and Longitudinal waves

2. Transverse waves
a. Transverse wave on a rope
b. Water waves in a ripple tank
c. Predicting wave motion
3. Longitudinal waves
a. Longitudinal wave in a slinky spring
b. Compression and Rarefactions
c. Longitudinal wave in a sound wave
4. Properties of wave motion
a. Formulas
b. Definitions
5. Wave production and ripple tank
a. Refraction of waves
b. Depth of ripple tank

Exam checklist

1. Describe two types of wave motion, transverse and longitudinal waves, by using vibrations
in ropes and springs, and waves in a ripple tank;
2. Show an understanding that waves transfer energy without the transfer of matter;
3. State the differences and similarities between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave,
and provide appropriate examples of each.
4. Define, with reference to waves, the terms speed, frequency, wavelength, period and
amplitude
5. State what is meant by wavefront
6. Recall and apply the relationship
velocity = frequency × wavelength to solve related problems.
 Transverse and Longitudinal waves

Transverse Waves Longitudinal waves

Particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction Particles vibrate parallel to the direction of
of travel of the wave motion in a series of crests motion in a series of compressions and
and troughs rarefactions

EM waves, ripple tank Sound waves

Transverse waves on a rope

KE from hand is transferred to the rope,

causing the rope to propagate up and down

A series of crests and troughs can be seen on

the rope

When the wave moves, the rope particles (P

and Q) moves up and down about their rest
positions

KE from the up-and-down motion of the

rope is transferred by the wave from one
end of the rope to the other.
Transverse waves in a ripple tank

The KE of the up and down motion of the dipper

is transferred to the wave particles

The KE is transferred by the wave particles from

one end to the other

The water did not move from one end to the other.
(Note: the water do not move, they move up and
down about their fixed positions)

The water molecules transfer energy to the

neighbouring particles

Predicting wave motions

 Longitudinal waves on a slinky spring

KE from the object is transferred to the slinky from left to right

Transfer of KE from hand → slinky through push and pull movements

Compression and Rarefactions

Compression Rarefaction

Particles which are closer together have a Particles that are more spaced out have less air
slightly higher air pressure than the surrounding pressure than the surround air pressure
air pressure

Longitudinal wave in a sound wave

Transfer of KE
Vibration of object alternatively push the adjacent particles

KE is transferred through the air by collisions of air molecules

 Properties of wave motion

Crest: Highest point

Trough: Lowest point
Amplitude: Max possible displacement

In phase:
Particles moving in the same direction
Have the same distance from their rest positions

Wavelength λ :
Shortest distance between two successive
crests/troughs on a wave

Wavefront:
Imaginary line → joins all adjacent points that are in phase

Formulas

Frequency Number of crests that passed a point per second

Number of complete waves generated per second

Period 1
f= 𝑇 T=time

Speed v=fλ
 Wave production in a ripple tank

Transverse waves Longitudinal waves

Wavelength decreases → deep to shallow water (v and λ) decreases → deep to shallow water

i.e. λ2>λ1.

Reflection of waves and depth of a ripple tank

When waves enter a region of shallow water at an angle, the waves refract

Deep to shallow
λ decreases
v increases
FREQUENCY REMAINS THE SAME AS IT IS CONTROLLED BY THE DIPPER
 Chapter 14 EM waves

1. Properties of EM waves
2. Uses of EM waves
a. Raging (Radio waves)
b. Martians (Microwaves)
c. Invaded (Infrared)
d. Venus (Visible light)
e. Using (UV waves)
f. X-ray
g. Guns (Gamma ray)
3. Ionisation

Exam checklist
1. State that all electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that travel with the same speed
in a vacuum, and state the magnitude of this speed.
2. Describe the main components of the electromagnetic spectrum
3. State examples of the use of the following components:
a. Radio waves
b. Microwaves
c. Infrared
d. Light
e. Ultra-violet
f. Gamma rays
4. Describe the effects of absorbing electromagnetic waves
a. Eg: Heating, ionisation and damage to living cells
 Properties of EM waves

1. It is a transverse wave
8
2. Both transverse and longitudinal waves have the same speed in a vacuum (3.0x10 )
3. Can travel in a vacuum
4. Transfer energy from one place to another
5. v=fλ

Uses of EM waves

Wave Wavelengths Uses

Radio wave 10
−1 5
to 10 Radio and TV communication

Microwave 10
−3
to 10
−1 Microwave oven
Satellite communication

Infrared 10
−7
to 10
−3 Remote controls

Visible 10
−7 Photosynthesis
Optical fibres for medical uses and telecommunications

Ultra-violet 10
−8
to 10
−7 Sterilisation
Sunbeds

X-ray 10
−13
to 10
−8 Sterilisation
Medical/dental inspections

Gamma 10
−14
to 10
−10 Sterilisation
Treatment of cancer
 Ionisation

1. EM waves have photons

2. Increase frequency → Increase energy in each photon
3. Electron has enough energy to break from the atom
a. Free electron with a negative charge
b. Molecule with a net positive charge
 Chapter 15 Sound content page

1. Sound properties (recap from chapter 13)

a. Speed of sound
b. Echoes
2. How does a sound propagate
3. Displacement-time/Displacement-distance graphs
4. Sound properties: Speed
5. Determine speed of sound
a. Determine speed of sound in air
6. Pitch and loudness
a. How to increase pitch/frequency
7. Quality
8. Ultrasound and uses
a. SONAR
b. Quality control
c. Medical uses

Exam checklist
1. Describe the production of sound by vibrating sources
2. Describe the longitudinal nature of sound waves in terms of the processes of compression
and rarefaction
3. Explain that a medium is required in order to transmit sound waves
4. Explain that the speed of sound differs in solids, liquids and gases;
5. Describe a direct method for the determination of the speed of sound in air and make
necessary calculation
6. Relate the loudness and pitch of a sound to the amplitude and frequency of the sound wave
respectively.
7. Define ultrasound
8. Describe one use of ultrasound, e.g. quality control and pre-natal scanning
 Sound properties

1. Produced by a vibrating source

2. It is a form of energy transferred in a form of a wave
3. Requires a medium

How does sound propagate

Tuning fork prong example

1. Forks move outwards → compresses
2. Forks move inwards → rarefaction
3. Prongs continue to vibrate in a series of compressions and
rarefactions
4. KE is transferred by collision of air molecules

Recall !!
Vibration of object alternately → pushes adjacent particles
Displacement-distance graph

Displacement-time graph
 Sound properties: Speed

1. Speed differs in different mediums

a. Gas 1x
b. Liquid 5x
c. Solid 15x
2. Echoes are formed through reflection and refraction
2𝑥 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
3. Formula for echoes = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

Determining speed of sound through air

Steps for procedure

1. Person A and B will stand in an open field at least 1km apart from each other
2. Person B will start the timer when they see firing
3. Person B will stop the timer when they hear the sound
4. Repeat experiment to minimise random error

Assumption made: The timing that person B sees the firing is negligible
 Pitch and loudness

Loudness Pitch

Amplitude increases → Loudness increases → Vibration speed increases → Frequency

More energy increases → Pitch increases

How to increase frequency

1. Increase tension
2. Tighten/Shorten string
3. Use a thinner string → Less mass/unit

Quality

Quality is based on the different waveforms

Instruments have the same frequency but different waveforms

 Ultrasound and its uses

1. Glasses cleaner
a. From the ultrasound → KE transferred through the collision of water particles →
movement of water washes away the dirt on the glasses

2. Quality control - check the quality of bricks

a. Pulses are reflected on the other end of the
metal plate
b. If there are flaws in the quality, there will be 2
pulses reflected
i. One coming from the receiver
ii. The other one coming from the
location of flaw

3. Prenatal scanning
a. Transmitter sends ultrasound pulses
b. Detector picks up pulses from the baby
c. Different layers of composition → Different
reflected pulses