3.1 General properties of waves
- Syllabus
- 0625–2026–2027
- Topic
- 3.1
- Level
- —
3.1.1—Waves transfer energy without
- Know: waves transfer energy without transferring matter
3.1.2—What is meant by wave motion as
- Describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibrations in ropes and springs, and by experiments using water waves
3.1.3—Features of a wave in terms of
- Describe the features of a wave in terms of wavefront, wavelength, frequency, crest (peak), trough, amplitude and wave speed
3.1.4—Recall/use: for wave speed v = f λ
- Recall/use: for wave speed v = f λ
3.1.5—For a transverse wave, the direction
- Know: for a transverse wave, the direction of vibration is at right angles to the direction of propagation and understand that electromagnetic radiation, water waves and seismic S-waves (secondary) can be modelled as transverse
3.1.6—For a longitudinal wave, the direction
- Know: for a longitudinal wave, the direction of vibration is parallel to the direction of propagation and understand that sound waves and seismic P-waves (primary) can be modelled as longitudinal
3.1.7—Waves can undergo: (a) reflection at a
- Describe how waves can undergo: (a) reflection at a plane surface (b) refraction due to a change of speed (c) diffraction through a narrow gap
3.1.8—Use of a ripple tank to show: (a)
- Describe the use of a ripple tank to show: (a) reflection at a plane surface (b) refraction due to a change in speed caused by a change in depth (c) diffraction due to a gap (d) diffraction due to an edge
3.1.9—Wavelength and gap size affects
- Describe how wavelength and gap size affects diffraction through a gap
3.1.10—Wavelength affects diffraction at an
- Describe how wavelength affects diffraction at an edge
Objective notes
10 learning objectivesConceptIGCSE Physics