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Waves
W Richards
The Weald School

Simple Harmonic Motion

Definition: simple harmonic motion is when

acceleration is proportional to displacement
and is always directed towards equilibrium.

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Simple Harmonic Motion

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Consider a pendulum bob:

Lets draw a graph of displacement against time:

Equilibrium position

Displacement

Sinusoidal

Time

Displacement

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SHM Graphs
Time

Velocity
Time
Acceleration
Time

Waves revision

Watch a Mexican Wave

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Some definitions
1) Amplitude this is
how high the wave is:

2) Wavelength () this is the

distance between two
corresponding points on the
wave and is measured in metres:
3) Frequency this is how many waves pass by
every second and is measured in Hertz (Hz)

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Transverse
waves are when
the displacement
is at right angles
to the direction
of the wave

Displacement

Transverse vs. longitudinal waves

Displacement

Direction

Direction

Longitudinal
waves are when
the displacement
is parallel to the
direction of the
wave

The Wave Equation

The wave equation relates the speed of the wave to its
frequency and wavelength:
Wave speed (v) = frequency (f) x wavelength ()
in m/s

in Hz

in m

V
f

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Some example wave equation questions

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1) A water wave has a frequency of 2Hz and a wavelength

of 0.3m. How fast is it moving?
0.6m/s
2) A water wave travels through a pond with a speed of
1m/s and a frequency of 5Hz. What is the wavelength
of the waves?
0.2m
3) The speed of sound is 330m/s (in air). When Dave
hears this sound his ear vibrates 660 times a second.
What was the wavelength of the sound?
0.5m
4) Purple light has a wavelength of around 6x10-7m and a
frequency of 5x1014Hz. What is the speed of purple
light?
3x108m/s

Refraction Revision

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Refraction through a glass block:

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Wave slows down and bends

towards the normal due to
entering a more dense medium

Wave slows down but is

not bent, due to entering
along the normal

Wave speeds up and bends

away from the normal due to
entering a less dense medium

Finding the Critical Angle

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1) Ray gets refracted

3) Ray still gets refracted (just!)

THE CRITICAL
ANGLE

2) Ray still gets refracted

4) Ray gets
internally reflected

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Uses of Total Internal Reflection

Optical fibres:
An optical fibre is a long, thin, _______ rod made of
glass or plastic. Light is _______ reflected from one
end to the other, making it possible to send ____
chunks of information
Optical fibres can be used for _________ by sending
electrical signals through the cable. The main advantage
of this is a reduced ______ loss.
Words communications, internally, large, transparent, signal

Wave diagrams
1) Reflection

2) Refraction

3) Refraction

4) Diffraction

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Diffraction

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More diffraction if the size of the gap is similar to the wavelength

More diffraction if wavelength is increased (or frequency decreased)

Sound can also be diffracted

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The explosion cant be seen over the hill, but it can be

heard. We know sound travels as waves because sound
can be refracted, reflected (echo) and diffracted.

Diffraction depends on frequency

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A high frequency (short wavelength)

wave doesnt get diffracted much the
house wont be able to receive it

Diffraction depends on frequency

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A low frequency (long wavelength) wave

will get diffracted more, so the house
can receive it

Phase Difference

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Phase difference means when waves have the same frequency

but oscillate differently to each other. For example:
These two waves have
different amplitudes but
the same frequency and hit
their peaks at the same
time they are in phase

These two waves start

opposite to each other
they are in antiphase or
out of phase by radians

Phase Difference

What is the phase difference between

each of these waves?

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