Oscillations and waves
What to expect In this topic we look at oscillations of bodies that move back and forth periodically, progressive waves that transfer energy and information through space, the interference effects of these progressive waves, and other phenomena, and …
Oscillations and waves
Waves
…s a transfer of energy or information using oscillations of a medium, without moving the particles of the medium themselves. Waves can be modelled mathematically and have a number of different properties. Key Concepts Wave phenomena All waves have t…
Oscillations and waves
Introduction to waves
Particles don´t spread out, pass through each other, add or cancel... but waves do. What quantities do we use to model waves? Sound and light are very different but are modelled in the same way. Key Concepts Properties and quantities The kinetic ener…
Oscillations and waves
Standing waves on a string
…different and they will vibrate with different frequencies. Test Yourself Use quizzes to practise application of theory. Waves in strings 22/08/2016 [SLIDES]: Wave velocity, reflections superposition and standing waves Exam-style Questions Onli…
Oscillations and waves
AHL Waves
…produced when the relative speed of the source exceeds the speed of the wave in the medium. The Doppler effect affects light waves and can be used to determine the relative speeds of objects in the universe. The light of receding objects is red shift…
Oscillations and waves
Graphical representation of waves
….. but it looks impressive! Key Concepts A wave is made of a series of out of phase oscillations. Essentials Transverse waves A transverse wave can be represented by graphs of: displacement-time displacement-position Longitudinal waves A longi…
Oscillations and waves
Light
…ic waves, you will need to study the next section on electromagnetism. However, it is enough to use what we know about other waves to understand the wave nature of light. Key Concepts Electromagnetic spectrum Light is part of the electromagnetic spec…
Daily IA
Clara is researching the amplitude of waves on a ripple tank. Actually she started measuring waves in the Fjord located (about 50 meters from my lab) but found it too impressice.The ripple tank is more calm but it's difficult to take measurements. ho…
Oscillations and waves
Wave phenomena
…n i\over \sin r}={v_1\over v_2}\) Essentials Interference When two balls collide, they bounce off each other. When two waves collide, they pass through each other. Where the waves overlap the amplitudes add, this is called superposition. This r…
Oscillations and waves
Multiple slit interference
…ough. But what about two slits? When light passes through two or more slits, it interferes. A pattern can be observed if the waves are coherent. The effect continues with multiple slits or a diffraction grating. Key Concepts The phenonoma discussed o…
Oscillations and waves
Phase
…ct as they throw balls in the air at different times. It is important to understand the concept of phase before starting the Waves section. In short: a full wave cycle consists of 2π radians. Key Concepts The oscillations of two pendula can be repres…
Why two lamps don't interfere
…radiation with the same changing phase. If the starting phase of each changes at the same time then the superposition of the waves will not be altered, so the interference pattern will be stable. I tried making an animation using Paul Falstad's rippl…
Oscillations and waves
Doppler effect
…u_s\) is the speed of the source (ms-1), where \(u_s>0\) for the source moving towards the observer Ahead of the source, the waves have been squashed into the distance \(vt-u_st\) (equal to the distance traveled by the sound less the distance caught…
Oscillations and waves
Sound
…to warm air, its direction will change. Essentials Diffraction The wavelength of sound is in the order of metres, so sound waves are diffracted by openings such as doors. Interference Two sound waves will interfere to produce loud and quiet areas…
Revision tips
Mind maps and revision techniques
…nus Engineering) Thermal - Bitesize Gallery: Thermal - bitesize Mode: simple Thumb width: 128px Layout: row Oscillations & waves - Most (all but Standing Waves) Oscillations & waves - Bitesize Gallery: Waves - bitesize Mode: simple Thumb width: 12…
Exam questions
HL practice paper 2
…he cold because the molecules hit the walls harder and more often due to their increased kinetic energy. Question 3 Standing waves Standing waves (or stationary waves) form when the following occurs: Two waves With the same freqency and amplitude Tra…
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Investigation ideas
…action due to change in depth Diffraction through slits and around obstacles Interference between two point sources Standing waves Doppler effect Physical systems *indicates greater difficulty Play doh Mechanics type experiments related to deformatio…
Exam questions
SL practice paper 2
…he cold because the molecules hit the walls harder and more often due to their increased kinetic energy. Question 3 Standing waves Standing waves (or stationary waves) form when the following occurs: Two waves With the same freqency and amplitude Tra…
Electricity and magnetism
Magnetic fields
…f rotation not acceleration? What is the connection between magnetic fields and electric current? And why don't magnetic waves exist without electric waves? Key Concepts Magnets Iron is the most common magnetic material. This means that it cont…
Energy production
Renewable sources I
…be used to drive turbines, which are positioned horiztontally. Note that this is different to wave power, where the crashing waves directly strike turbines on a vertical plane. Essentials Almost all the renewable sources of energy are derived from…
Oscillations and waves
Simple harmonic motion
In the Standard Level waves section we established the definition of simple harmonic oscillations: the acceleration of an oscillating body is proportional to displacement but in the opposite direction. The AHL Waves requirements are more quantitative…
Atomic, nuclear and particles
Photoelectric effect and photons
…ectrons are emitted, regardless of the intensity of the light. This is evidence against the wave theory (in which continuous waves would eventually build up sufficient energy for escape). When the frequency is increased (i.e. towards or into the ultr…
Thermal
Thermal concepts
…about as a whole (rather than individual particles). Radiation is the transfer of heat by all hot objects by electromagnetic waves (infra red). Radiation can travel through any substance or vacuum. Black objects both radiate and absorb better than li…
Atomic, nuclear and particles
Rutherford model
…mple of a scientific discovery where the theory developed from an experiment. Scattering Analysing the path of particles (or waves) bouncing off an object is a common way to find out what that object is. Ask a friend to place blob(s) of plasticine u…
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Coming soon
…as a textbook (and is cheaper than an hour's tuition!). Latest updates: Past paper walk-throughs are up and running AHL Waves and EM Induction topics AHL Fields and Quantum topics Two Options in full Things to look out for... Required practical…
Energy production
Global thermal energy transfer
…oncluding topic is a bit of everything and is a great check of so much that you have already studied: conservation of energy waves electromagnetic spectrum nuclear fusion electron energy levels This page is a quick summary, but for fuller details, go…
Oscillations and waves
Resolution
…ratings and interference. Test Yourself Use quizzes to practise application of theory. Resolution 09/09/2019 [SLIDES]: AHL Waves quiz …
Oscillations and waves
Thin film interference
…ass surfaces. Test Yourself Use quizzes to practise application of theory. Thin film interference 15/09/2019 [SLIDES]: AHL waves …
Oscillations and waves
Single slit diffraction
…outermost. Test Yourself Use quizzes to practise application of theory. Single slit Diffraction 08/09/2019 [SLIDES]: AHL waves quiz …
Atomic, nuclear and particles
AHL Quantum
…article may conversely annihilate to produce a pair of photons (in opposite directions to conserve momentum). Electrons as waves The quantum nature of light indicates that there must be a wave nature of matter. Indeed, electrons are diffracted and…
Swimming pool investigations
…Under water projectiles. Analysis of the motion of sinking objects. Analysis of the motion of buoyant objects. The speed of waves at different depths. Wave interference. Wave amplitude and distance from a point source. Centripetal force in the slide…
IA 2022
…ranged with horizontal slope? Clara: The relationship between the amplitude and distance from the source of a wave in ripple waves. Fanny: The Relationship Between Rate of Blood Flow Through a Blood Vessel and the Radius of the Vessel.…