Chapter 4: Waves

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  • Waves
    • Waves and vibrations
      • Types of waves
        • Longitudinal
          • Direction of vibration is parallel to direction of movement
          • Examples: sound waves and P-waves
        • Transverse
          • Examples: S-waves and waves on a string
          • Direction of vibration is perpendicular to movement of wave
      • Polarisation
        • Plane polarisation
          • Transverse waves are plane polarised- meaning the vibrations stay in one plane.
            • Longitudinal waves cannot be polarised
          • Light from a filament lamp or candle is unpolarised
            • This light can be polarised through a polaroid filter.
              • These filters block all light except in one direction.
        • Unpolarised light
          • Has light travelling at all angles between 0 and 360 in a circle
            • If passed through one filter it becomes polarised
              • If passed through another filter the light intensity changes based on the angle of the filters
                • At 90 or 270 the filters are out of phase and produce no light.
                • At 0, 180 or 360 the filters are in phase and produce a full light.
                • Any angle in between produces a dimmer light
              • This light can be polarised through a polaroid filter.
                • These filters block all light except in one direction.
    • Measuring waves
      • Key terms
        • Cycle
          • From peak to peak or maximum displacementto maximum displacement
        • Wavelength
          • The least distance between two adjacent points
        • Period
          • The time for one complete wave to pass a fixed point
        • Amplitude
          • The maximum displacementa vibrating particle
            • For transverse this is the height of the wave
        • Frequency
          • The number of cycles of vibrations of particle per second. Unit: Hz
        • Displacement
          • its distance and direction from equilibrium position
      • Phase difference
        • Measured in phi
        • Is the fraction of a cycle it has completed since the start of the cycle
        • In degrees 1 cycle = 360
          • In radians 1 cycle = 2pi
            • Phase difference
              • Measured in phi
              • Is the fraction of a cycle it has completed since the start of the cycle
              • In degrees 1 cycle = 360
                • In radians 1 cycle = 2pi
      • Wave properties
        • Reflection
          • A wave that is directed at a flat surface reflects off at the same angle- angle of reflection
        • Refraction
          • When a wave approaches a boundary the leading wavefront slows down earlier causing it to bend and slow down
        • Diffraction
          • Occurs when waves spread out after passing through a gap or around an obstacle
            • The longer the wavelength also means waves spread out more
              • Narrow gap means more spread out waves
            • Narrow gap means more spread out waves
        • Superposition
          • When two identical waves meet they pass through each other
            • When two peaks meet they create a super crest which is a combination of their amplitudes
            • When two troughs meet they create a super trough which is a combination of their amplitudes
            • When a peak meets a trough they cancel
      • Stationary waves
        • Formed when two progressive waves pass through each other
        • The first harmonic is the first loop of a stationary wave
          • The length of the first harmonic is half of the wavelength as only one loop is formed
          • Nodes are points of a stationary wave that doesn't move
            • Antinodes are points on the wave that are at maximum displacement
          • Antinodes are points on the wave that are at maximum displacement
      • Progressive waves
        • These are waves that have no fixed points and travel freely
        • Stationary waves
          • Formed when two progressive waves pass through each other
          • The first harmonic is the first loop of a stationary wave
            • The length of the first harmonic is half of the wavelength as only one loop is formed
            • Nodes are points of a stationary wave that doesn't move

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