BRAINCAKEWaves
Revision notes for Waves in Edexcel Physics (8PH0). Every lesson in BrainCake comes with R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps, a quick check and spaced reviews.
- Energy Transfer by WavesA progressive wave is an oscillation that travels through a medium, or through a vacuum for electromagnetic waves, and transfers energy from one…
- Wave MeasurementsThese quantities describe a wave: Displacement: the distance of a point on the wave from its equilibrium position, in a stated direction.
- Investigating the Speed of SoundThe speed of sound in air can be measured with a signal generator, a loudspeaker, a microphone and a two-beam (dual-trace) oscilloscope.
- Pulse Echo MeasurementsIn pulse-echo techniques a short pulse of waves is sent out, reflects from a boundary, and the reflected pulse (the echo) is detected, often by the…
- Transverse and Longitudinal WavesWaves are classified by the direction of the oscillations compared with the direction in which the wave transfers energy.
- EarthquakesAn earthquake releases energy that travels through the Earth as seismic waves.
- Phase and Phase DifferenceThe phase of a point on a wave describes where it is in its cycle of oscillation.
- SuperpositionWhen two or more waves meet at a point, they do not bounce off each other.
- InterferenceInterference is the pattern produced when waves from two sources superpose.
- Progressive WavesA progressive wave is a wave that moves through a medium (or through space), carrying energy from one place to another without transferring matter.
- Stationary WavesA stationary (standing) wave forms when two progressive waves with the same frequency and similar amplitude travel in opposite directions and…
- Demonstrating Stationary WavesStationary waves can be demonstrated, and used to measure wavelength, with microwaves or sound.
- Waves on a Stretched StringA string held under tension with both ends fixed, such as a guitar string, can carry stationary waves.
- Speed and Frequency of Waves on a Stretched StringThe speed of a transverse wave on a stretched string depends on how tight the string is and how heavy it is: v = √(T / μ) where T is the tension in…
- Investigating the Factors Affecting Fundamental FrequencyThis practical investigates how the fundamental frequency of a string depends on its length, tension and mass per unit length.
- Fundamental FrequencyThe fundamental frequency f0 is the lowest frequency at which a string forms a stationary wave.
- DiffractionDiffraction is the spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap or travel past the edge of an obstacle.
- Factors Affecting DiffractionThe amount of diffraction depends on how the size of the gap (or obstacle) compares with the wavelength of the waves.
- Single Slit DiffractionWhen monochromatic light (light of a single wavelength, for example from a laser) passes through a single narrow slit, it diffracts and produces a…
- The Diffraction GratingA diffraction grating is a slide with a very large number of equally spaced, parallel slits (lines), often several hundred per millimetre.
- Investigating Diffraction with a LaserA laser and a diffraction grating can be used to measure the wavelength of laser light accurately.
- Two Slit InterferenceIn Young's double slit experiment, light passes through two narrow slits close together.
On the specification
- Topic 5: Waves and Particle Nature of Light