•Aspire: Create diagrams of how the particles in a sound wave travel.

•Challenge: Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.

Intro to Waves
State what can you remember about waves from GCSE Physics.
Can you remember the names and properties of these waves?
•Aspire: Create diagrams of how the particles in a sound wave travel.
•Challenge: Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.

What is a progressive wave?

A progressive wave is an oscillation (vibration) that
transfers energy but does not transfer matter.
Some progressive waves need a medium to travel through.
These are called mechanical waves. For example, sound
waves are mechanical waves.
Other progressive waves can travel through a vacuum.
These are called electromagnetic waves. For example, radio
waves are an electromagnetic wave.

Name another type of mechanical wave and an EM wave.

•Aspire: Create diagrams of how the particles in a sound wave travel.
•Challenge: Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.

Mechanical Waves and Forces

Mechanical waves are Matter
composed of the movement of Equilibrium position
matter that transfer energy.

As the progressive wave travels through the medium

(material) the particles move from their equilibrium position
to a new position.
For the particles to move a force must be applied.
The particles in the medium exert a force on their
neighbours. We can model this as if there were springs
between the particles.
•Aspire: Create diagrams of how the particles in a sound wave travel.
•Challenge: Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.

Types of waves
Transverse waves are when energy is transported
perpendicular to the direction oscillation.

Oscillations
Equilibrium position

We can depict
this moving Energy
Oscillations
image as this:
•Aspire: Create diagrams of how the particles in a sound wave travel.
•Challenge: Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.

Types of waves
Longitudinal waves are when energy is transported parallel
to the direction oscillation.

We can depict
this moving Energy
image as this:
Compression Oscillations Rarefaction
•Aspire: Create diagrams of how the particles in a sound wave travel.
•Challenge: Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.

Example of Types of Waves

Longitudinal Transverse

Sound waves All EM waves

P-waves in earthquakes Water waves
Pressure waves
•Aspire: Create diagrams of how the particles in a sound wave travel.
•Challenge: Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.
•Aspire: Create diagrams of how the particles in a sound wave travel.
•Challenge: Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.

Answers
Do not look at the following slides until you have
attempted the homework questions.

You may believe that you are managing to get your

work done quickly by cheating and looking.

Yet, in reality you are only cheating yourself.

I can guarantee that you will regret cheating when

you open your exam results.
•Aspire: Create diagrams of how the particles in a sound wave travel.
•Challenge: Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.