Physics AQA Unit 2 - Waves
A quick mindmap for those struggling with wave properties
- Created by: zach
- Created on: 20-03-13 16:05
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- WAVES
- Reflection
- Straight waves directed at acertain angle to a hard flat surface reflect off at the same angle.
- Refraction
- Occurs when waves pass into different material changing the wave speed
- The direction of motion is also changed.
- Also changes wavelength
- The direction of motion is also changed.
- Also changes wavelength
- Occurs when waves pass into different material changing the wave speed
- Diffraction
- A wave is passed through a tiny gap
- The narrower the gap, the more the waves spread out.
- The longer the wavelength, the more the waves spread out.
- A wave is passed through a tiny gap
- Types of Waves
- Longitudinal
- When the direction of virbation is parallel to the direction of the wave.
- E.g. Sound Waves
- Transverse
- When the direction of the vibration is perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
- E.g. Electromagnetic Waves
- Longitudinal
- Polarisation
- Transverse waves are plane-polarised, if they stick to one plane.
- Longitudinal can not be ploarised as they switch from plane to pane leaving them unpolarised.
- Masuring Waves
- Key Terms
- Displacement
- Distance and direction from a particles orgianl position
- Amplitude
- Maximum displacement of a vibrating particle.
- Wavelength
- Distance between two peaks
- One complete cycle
- From one peak to the next
- Period
- Time for one complete wave to pass a fixed point
- Frequency
- The number of cycles per second (hertz)
- Displacement
- Wave speed
- c = f λ
- Phase Difference
- cycle=360 deg =2π
- Phase dif = 2πd / λ
- cycle=360 deg =2π
- Key Terms
- Superposition
- When two waves meet, the toatal displacement at a point is equal to the sum of the individual displacements at that point.
- Where a crest meets a crest, a supercrest is created, the two waves reinforce each other.
- Where a trough meets a trough, a supertrough is created, reinforcing one another.
- Reflection
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