Physics Waves AQA AS LATEST UPDATE

Physics Waves AQA AS LATEST UPDATE

What does a wave do?
Transports energy from one place to another
What are mechanical waves?
Mechanical waves use particles to transfer energy (neighboring particles bump into
each other and set their neighbors moving)
What are electromagnetic waves?
Electromagnetic waves don't use particle vibration to transfer their energy and can
therefore travel through a vacuum. e.g. light
What is the unit of frequency?
Hertz (Hz)
What is the wave equation?
c=fxλ
wavespeed = frequency x wavelength
Longitudinal wave
Vibrations in a longitudinal wave are parallel to the direction in which the energy is
traveling Eg. sound
Transverse wave
Vibrations in a transverse wave are perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction in
which the energy is traveling Eg. light.
Define wavelength
The shortest distance between two particles that are oscillating in phase
Period of a wave
The time taken for one complete oscillation of a particle in the wave
Period Equation
f = 1/T
Amplitude
Maximum displacement from the mean position
Frequency