IGCSE PHYSICS

Chapter 14
Properties of waves
Page (200-213)

BLOCK 2
WAVES
 Lesson Objectives:

 Demonstrate understanding that waves transfer energy without transferring

matter
 Describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibration in ropes and
springs and by experiments using water waves
 Use the term wave front
 Give the meaning of speed, frequency, wavelength and amplitude • Recall and use
the equation v = f λ
 Distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves and give suitable examples
 • Describe how waves can undergo: – reflection at a plane surface – refraction due
to a change of speed – diffraction through a narrow gap • Describe the use of
water waves to demonstrate reflection, refraction and diffraction
 • Describe how wavelength and gap size affects diffraction through a gap •
Describe how wavelength affects diffraction at an edge
GENERAL PROPERTIES
OF
WAVES
Waves
Waves
When a stone is dropped
into a pond, ripples begin to
spread out across the
surface.
Waves
The tiny waves carry energy
– but there is no actual flow
of water across the pond.
Waves
Waves are just the
up and down
movement in water.

Peak

Trough
Waves
Waves are just the
up and down
movement in water.

Peak

Trough
Waves
Waves are just the
up and down
movement in water.

Waves have features

in common, and can be
divided into two main
types:

1. Transverse
Peak 2. Longitudinal

Trough
Wave motion
A wave transmits energy from one place to another.
For example, energy can be carried by a water wave
generated by a boat out at sea to the shore, or by a
sound wave from the loudspeaker to an audience’s ears.
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

The to-and-fro movements of the wave are

called oscillations. In a transverse wave
these oscillations are at right angles to the
direction in which the energy is travelling.
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

The to-and-fro movements of the wave are

called oscillations. In a transverse wave
these oscillations are at right angles to the
direction in which the energy is travelling.
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

Features of transverse waves

1. Wavelength.
The distance
between any two
corresponding
points on the
wave. (metres)
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

Features of transverse waves

1. Wavelength. 2. Amplitude. The

The distance maximum
between any two displacement of
corresponding the wave from its
points on the rest point.
wave. (metres)
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

Features of transverse waves

1. Wavelength. 2. Amplitude. The 3. Speed. The

The distance maximum speed of the wave
between any two displacement of is measured in
corresponding the wave from its metres per second
points on the rest point. (m/s).
wave. (metres)
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

Features of transverse waves

4. Frequency. The number of

waves passing any point in
one second. The unit of
frequency is the hertz (Hz).
One hertz is one vibration
of the wave per second. The
time for one oscillation is
called the period.
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

Features of transverse waves

4. Frequency. The number of For example, if five complete

waves passing any point in waves pass a given point in one
one second. The unit of second (i.e. five complete
frequency is the hertz (Hz). oscillations) then the
One hertz is one vibration frequency is 5 Hz.
of the wave per second. The
time for one oscillation is
called the period.
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

Features of transverse waves

Remember! The frequency (in Hz) is the

number of oscillations per second.
The period (in seconds) is the time for one
complete oscillation.

Frequency = 1
period
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

The wave equation

Linking
together speed,
frequency and
wavelength.
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

The wave equation

Linking
together speed,
frequency and
wavelength.

Speed = frequency x wavelength

Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

The wave equation

Linking
together speed,
frequency and
wavelength.

Speed = frequency x wavelength

v = fλ
(λ = Greek letter
lambda)
Transverse Waves Eg. light, ultra-violet, gamma
rays, radio.

The wave equation

Linking together
speed,
frequency and
wavelength.

Speed = frequency x wavelength

v = fλ
(λ = Greek letter
lambda)

m/s Hz m
Longitudinal Waves Eg. Sound
Longitudinal Waves Eg. Sound

Compression Rarefaction
Longitudinal Waves Eg. Sound

Compression Rarefaction
In longitudinal waves the
oscillations (vibrations) are
backwards and forwards.
The different sections are
known as compressions and
rarefactions.
Longitudinal Waves Eg. Sound

Compression Rarefaction
In longitudinal waves the
The oscillations in
oscillations (vibrations) are
longitudinal waves are in
backwards and forwards.
the direction of travel.
The different sections are
known as compressions and
Sound waves are
rarefactions.
longitudinal waves.
 Introduction

The behaviour of a wave will change

i) at the end of a medium or
ii) when it is moving from one medium to
another medium.
The behaviour also changes in a two-dimensional
wave (water wave travelling through ocean
water) and in a three-dimensional wave (sound or
light waves travelling through air).
Study of waves in two dimensions is usually done
using a ripple tank.
 Wavefronts
Waves can be drawn using lines called wavefronts.
Each wavefront is the peak of a transverse wave or the
compression of a longitudinal wave..
wave
wave direction
direction

circular
one wavefronts
wavelength

ray
direction
 Ripple tank

Ripples (tiny waves) are sent across the surface of

water. Obstacles are put in their path to see what
effects are produced.
 Ripple tank

Ripple tank is a glass-bottomed tank . Light shinning on a

ripple tank will produce bright & dim spots on the paper
(screen).

Crest of a wave will absorb more light than the trough of

a wave. So, crests appears as bright spots and troughs
appear as dim spots. As the water waves move through
the ripple tank, bright and dim spots move as well.

When the waves meet any obstacle in their path, their

behaviour can be observed by watching the bright & dim
spots.
 Producing waves in a ripple tank
Straight waves (plane wavefronts) are produced by using a
straight object like ruler or pencil attached to the vibrator.

Circular waves (circular wavefronts) are produced by using a

pointed object(tip of a pencil) attached to the vibrator.
 Reflection of waves
A vertical surface is put on the path of the waves. The
waves are reflected from the surface at the same angle
as they strike it.
Features of reflection:
1. No change in frequency.
2. No change in wavelength.
3. No change in speed.
4. Direction of wave travel changes.
 Reflection of waves

reflected waves
incident
reflected ray

barrier
waves

Waves
incident at
right angles

re
fle

refl
c
equal

te

ec
dr
angles

ted
ay
incident ray

ray
bar incident ray
rier
 Refraction of waves
A flat piece of plastic makes the water more shallow,
which slows the waves down.
When the waves slow, they change direction. The
effect is called refraction.
Features of refraction:
1. No change in the frequency of the waves.
2. Decrease in speed makes the wavefronts close up
on each other.
3. Hence according to wave equation  =  , as
frequency remains constant, decrease in speed
causes a decrease in wavelength.
4. Direction of wave travel changes(unless they are
travelling at right angles to the boundary)
 Diffraction
 Diffraction occurs when a wave passes by the
edge of a barrier and the wavefront bends
around the edge
 Part of the wavefront is blocked and reflected
back, so the energy from the wavefront that
does get past the barrier spreads out into the
rest of the medium - creating a circular wave
front
 What will happen to the appearance of the
waves as the opening between the two barriers
gets smaller?
 The smaller the opening, the more circular the
diffracted wave fronts become
Diffraction in Sound and Light waves
• Sound waves have wavelength about 10mm and
10m.They are diffracted as they pass through door
ways or windows
• Light waves have much shorter wavelength, less
than millionth of a meter.
• Very small gaps are needed to see diffraction of
light waves
• On foggy nights, street lamps and car headlights
appear to be surrounded by halo of light. Light is
diffracted by tiny droplets of water in the air
 Check your understanding......
1.Explain the type of wavefront shown .

2.Explain the type of wavefront shown .

2
 Check your understanding......
1.Explain the type of wavefront shown .
Blue lines are plane wavefronts.
Wavefronts are the crests of a transverse or
compression of a longitudinal wave
Black arrow represents a ray. Ray gives us the direction
of wave travel which is always at right angles to the
1
wavefronts.
Distance between two blue lines is equal to one
wavelength.

2.Explain the type of wavefront shown .

Green lines are circular wavefronts.
Black arrow represents a ray. Ray gives us the
direction of wave travel which is always at right
angles to the wavefronts.
2 Distance between two green lines is equal to one
wavelength.
 Check your understanding......
3a) Name the effect shown .

Reflection.
1 2

b) Name 1 and 2 with appropriate

terms.
3 1-incident ray/wavefronts
2- reflected ray/wavefronts
c) The green ray strikes the straight
barrier at an angle of 30o with the
normal.
At what angle does the red ray
leaves the barrier?
30o.
 Check your understanding......
3a) Name the effect shown .

Reflection.
1 2

b) Name 1 and 2 with appropriate

terms.
3 1-incident ray/wavefronts
2- reflected ray/wavefronts
c) The green ray strikes the straight
barrier at an angle of 30o with the
normal.
At what angle does the red ray
leaves the barrier?
30o.
 Check your understanding......
Region 1 Region 2 Region 3

4
4a) Name the effect shown . d) How can you find a certain region is
shallow?

b) What type of medium could be regions

1, 2 and 3?
(deep/shallow/more dense/less dense)
e) Compare the speed of waves in region 2
with region 1 & 3. Explain your answer

c) At which region, the frequency will be

higher? (1/ 2/3)
 Check your understanding......
Region 1 Region 2 Region 3

4
4a) Name the effect shown . d) How can you find a certain region is
shallow?
Refraction.
The bending of the ray (towards normal) and
b) What type of medium could be regions the closer wavefronts (less speed) show that
1, 2 and 3? a certain region is shallow.
(deep/shallow/more dense/less dense)
e) Compare the speed of waves in region 2
Regions 1 & 3-deep or less dense with region 1 & 3. Explain your answer
Region 2- shallow or more dense
The waves in region 2 travel with less speed
c) At which region, the frequency will be compared to the regions 1 & 3. Wavefronts
higher? (1/ 2/3) are closer in region 2 than in region 1 & 3.
Hence they have short wavelengths. With no
Frequency remains constant in all the 3 change in frequency, the speed is reduced at
regions. region 2.
 Check your understanding......

B
5) Waves are moving towards
an island.
a) What will happen to the
waves striking the sandy area A
A of the island?

5 b) What will happen to the

waves striking the wall at B and
C?
 Check your understanding......

B
5) Waves are moving towards
an island.
a) What will happen to the
waves striking the sandy area A
A of the island?
Refraction occurs. No change in frequency,
but wavelength reduces and hence speed
C
of wave decreases.

5 b) What will happen to the

waves striking the wall at B and
C?
Reflection of waves occur. No change in
speed, frequency and wavelength.
 matter
energy

transverse
longitudinal
reflection
refraction diffraction
 c) One wave=4cm
10cm=4/10=0.25 waves
5-1=4cm So 2.5 waves passes in a second
3cm So frequency is 2.5Hz
decrease
Stay same
decrease
 b) i)string moves air backwards and forwards or up and down or
amplitude
produces compressions and rarefactions
wavelength

ii) as distance a (amplitude decreases) sound gets quieter/softer/less loud

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