Theme 3: The Nature of Waves

3.1 Wave Motion A wave is a method of transferring energy without transferring

matter.
As the wave energy moves in one direction, the particles of the
medium vibrate either parallel or perpendicular to the
direction of energy transfer.
3.2 Wave Properties WAVELENGTH: The distance across one complete wave cycle
(crest to crest or trough to trough/ rarefaction to rarefaction or
compression to compression) (IGCSE)
Or
The distance between the same point on two adjacent
disturbances. (MATSEC)
Unit: m

DISPLACEMENT: the distance that a certain point in the

medium has moved from its equilibrium (rest) position
Unit: m

AMPLITUDE: The maximum displacement of a wave from its

equilibrium position
Unit: m

FREQUENCY: The number of waves per second that are

produced by the source or that are passing a point per second
Unit: hertz (Hz) or per second( /s)

SPEED: The distance travelled by the wave energy in a given

time
Unit: m/s

PERIODIC TIME (PERIOD) : The time for one complete wave

cycle (oscillation)
Unit: s

WAVEFRONT: If the particles that are in phase were joined by a

line (or curve), this would form a wavefront.

3.3 Waves as carriers of Waves carry energy from one location to another.
energy Examples: Slinky spring, water wave, vibrations in ropes, tuning
forks
3.4 Mechanical waves A mechanical wave is a wave that needs a medium in order to
travel. Example: sound
These waves travel fastest in denser media
3.5 Transverse vs Transverse wave: The particles of the medium vibrate
Longitudinal waves perpendicular to the direction of the energy transfer
Examples: light, all electromagnetic waves)

Longitudinal wave: The particles of the medium vibrate parallel

to the direction of the energy transfer
Example: sound

3.6 Frequency See 3.2 above

3.7 Equation linking
frequency and period

3.8 Wavelength See 3.2 above

3.9 Displacement-time
graphs for transverse
wave

Please note the the graph above looks similar

BUT
is VERY DIFFERENT to the one below
3.10 Speed of sound You can see a flash of lightning before you hear the peal of
vs thunder. We see the flash virtually instantaneously because
Speed of light light travels so fast. Sound, on the other hand, travels more
slowly. If the storm is 1500 m away, the sound will take
about 5 s to arrive.
Sprinters start on the flash of a gun, rather than the bang. On
school sports day, the starter actually stands half way down
the 100 m track with the starting pistol.
This is because light travels much faster than sound.
The speed of sound is about 300 m/s.
The speed of light is about 300, 000, 000 (or 3 x 108) m/s.

3.11 Ultrasound Ultrasound waves have a frequency higher than the upper limit
for human hearing – above 20,000 Hertz (Hz). Different species
of animal have different hearing ranges. This explains why a
dog can hear the ultrasound produced by a dog whistle, but
humans cannot.

Ultrasound imaging creates a picture of something that cannot

be seen directly, such as an unborn baby in the womb. This is a
safer way of scanning in lieu of X rays.

High frequency sound waves can be used to detect objects in

deep water and to measure water depth. The time between a
pulse of sound being transmitted and detected and the speed
of sound in water can be used to calculate the distance of the
reflecting surface or object. The process is very similar to
ultrasound imaging. However, the sound waves used are within
normal hearing range, and they are used to identify objects
rather than internal structures.
This technique is applied in sonar systems used to find
shipwrecks, submarines and shoals of fish. Bats and dolphins
use a similar method, called echolocation, to detect their
surroundings and to find food.

3.12 Wave speed formula

v = f‫ג‬ f = v/‫ג‬ ‫ג‬ = v/f

3.13 a) reflection of water
waves

b) reflection of sound

c) reflection of light
from a plane mirror

3.14 Law of reflection Reflection occurs when a wave hits a boundary and travels
back in the original medium.
The incident ray is the ray that hits the boundary. The
reflected ray is the one that travels back.

The law of reflection states:

Angle of incidence i = angle of reflection r
Remember these angles are always measured from the normal

3.15 Use of a plane mirror to

show formation and
characteristics of the
image produced

Remember!

Draw rays of light with arrows

 You may be asked to label:
 The normal
 Angles of incidence and reflection
 Where the image is formed
Characteristics:
 Upright
 Virtual
 Same size as object
 Image distance = object distance
 Laterally inverted

3.16 Refraction & change of Refraction is the change in speed of a wave when a wave
wave speed moves into a new medium. The wave speed decreases if the
second medium is denser, and it increases if the second
medium is less dense. Usually, it is accompanied by a bending
of the ray. The wavelength also changes but not the frequency.

Refraction in ripple tank:

Refraction in a parallel-sided transparent block:

Formula for refractive index η in terms of speed:

η = Speed of light in air_____
Speed of light in medium
3.17 Angles of incidence and
refraction

3.18 Real and Apparent

Depth due to refraction
of water

3.19 Effect of refraction

when object is viewed
from above

3.20 Critical angle and total The critical angle is the angle of incidence for which the angle
internal reflection of refraction is 90o (the ray travels along the boundary between
the two media)

Total internal reflection:

Total internal reflection occurs when:

1. The ray is going from more dense to less dense
material
2. The angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle

3.21 Emergent rays The direction of the emergent ray for a semi-circular glass
block depends upon the angle of incidence in the block
3.22 Converging and
diverging lenses

Principal focus and focal

length of a converging
lens

Principal focus and focal

length of a diverging
lens

3.23 Ray diagrams of a

converging lens
3.24 Magnification

3.25 Dispersion of light in a White light can be split up to form a spectrum using a prism.
prism This is a block of glass with a triangular cross section.
Light waves are refracted as they enter the glass because they
are slowed down.
The spectrum is produced because different colours of light
travel at different speeds in glass.
Red light is slowed down least by glass and is refracted least.
Violet light is slowed down most by glass and is refracted most.
As a result, the coloured light spreads out to form a spectrum
of white light.
This is called dispersion.
Key points
 The spectrum of white light is produced because
different colours of light travel at different speeds in
glass.
 Red light is slowed down least by glass and is refracted
least.
 Violet light is slowed down most by glass and is
refracted most.

3.26 The electromagnetic Light (visible light) forms part of the electromagnetic spectrum
spectrum of radiations. All electromagnetic waves have the following
characteristics:
a) They can travel in a vacuum (and, therefore, space)
b) They are transverse
c) They can travel at the same speed (the speed of light =
3 x 108 m/s)
3.27 Components of the
electromagnetic
spectrum

Remember
(in order of frequency)

Real
Men
Inevitably
Visit
Ugly
eX
Girlfriends
3.28 Properties and uses of Radio: radio and TV communications
some electromagnetic Micro: satellite TV and telephones, ovens
radiations IR: electrical appliance, remote controllers for TV and alarms
X-rays: medicine and security
Visible: human vision
Gamma: cancer treatments
3.29 Diffraction Diffraction occurs when a wave passes through a narrow gap
and, as a result, it spreads out