BRAINCAKEWaves
Revision notes for Waves in OCR Physics A (H156). Read the start of any lesson here, then sign in free for the whole lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz.
- Progressive WavesProgressive waves are oscillations that travel through matter or space.
- Wave PropertiesDisplacement is the distance from the equilibrium position in a particular direction.
- Phase DifferenceTwo different types of graph can be used to describe a wave.A displacement-distance graph is also called a wave profile and is a snapshot of the…
- Reflection and RefractionA ripple tank can be used to study water waves.A wave can be represented as a series of wavefronts.A wavefront is a line joining points on a wave…
- DiffractionWhen waves travel through a gap or around and obstacle they spread out.
- PolarisationPolarised waves oscillate in one plane only.
- IntensityThe intensity of a progressive wave is the radiant power particle through a surface per unit area.where P is the power and A is the cross-sectional…
- Electromagnetic WavesElectromagnetic Spectrum Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves.
- Refractive IndexDifferent materials refract light by different amounts.
- Total Internal ReflectionWhen light travels from one medium to another a small amount of the light is reflected, and most is refracted.
- superpositionWhen two waves of the same type meet, they pass through each other.
- InterferenceFor a stable interference pattern to form,two superpositioning waves must be coherent.
- Young's Double Slit ExperimentYoung obtained a monochromatic source of light by passing light through a colour filter.
- Stationary WavesStationary waves form when two progressive waves of the same frequency travel in opposite directions and are superposed.
- HarmonicsTransverse stationary waves formed on stringed musical instruments can produce musical notes.