PHY-102: Waves & Electromagnetic Radiation –
Complete Revision Guide (Code: PHY-WAVE23)
Waves - transfer energy in the direction that they travel
particles oscillate and transfer energy between each other
amplitude - maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed
position
wavelength - the distance between the same point on two adjacent waves
Frequency - the number of complete waves passing a certain point per second
Hertz
Crest - the top of the wave
Trough - the bottom of the wave
Transverse waves - the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
electromagnetic waves
waves on string
ripples
Longitudinal waves - the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
sound waves
shock waves
Wave speed = - frequency x wavelength
oscilloscope - to measure the speed of sound
, three things can happen when a wave meets a boundary - absorbed, transmitted which can lead to
refraction, reflected
angle of incidence = - angle of reflection
angle of incidence - is the angle between the incoming and the normal
the angle of reflection - is the angle between the reflected wave and the normal
the normal - the imaginary line that's perpendicular to the surface at the point of
incidence
specular reflection -
diffuse reflection -
radio wave length - 1m - 10^4m
micro wave length - 10^-2m
infrared wave length - 10^-5m
visible light wave length - 10^-7 m
ultra violet wave length - 10^-8 m
x ray wave length - 10^-10 m
gamma rays wave length - 10^-18 m
refraction - waves changing direction at a boundary
how much it refracts depends on how much the wave speeds up or slows down - depends on
density
high density - the higher, the slower
wave crosses a boundary and slows down - it will bend towards the normal
Complete Revision Guide (Code: PHY-WAVE23)
Waves - transfer energy in the direction that they travel
particles oscillate and transfer energy between each other
amplitude - maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed
position
wavelength - the distance between the same point on two adjacent waves
Frequency - the number of complete waves passing a certain point per second
Hertz
Crest - the top of the wave
Trough - the bottom of the wave
Transverse waves - the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
electromagnetic waves
waves on string
ripples
Longitudinal waves - the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
sound waves
shock waves
Wave speed = - frequency x wavelength
oscilloscope - to measure the speed of sound
, three things can happen when a wave meets a boundary - absorbed, transmitted which can lead to
refraction, reflected
angle of incidence = - angle of reflection
angle of incidence - is the angle between the incoming and the normal
the angle of reflection - is the angle between the reflected wave and the normal
the normal - the imaginary line that's perpendicular to the surface at the point of
incidence
specular reflection -
diffuse reflection -
radio wave length - 1m - 10^4m
micro wave length - 10^-2m
infrared wave length - 10^-5m
visible light wave length - 10^-7 m
ultra violet wave length - 10^-8 m
x ray wave length - 10^-10 m
gamma rays wave length - 10^-18 m
refraction - waves changing direction at a boundary
how much it refracts depends on how much the wave speeds up or slows down - depends on
density
high density - the higher, the slower
wave crosses a boundary and slows down - it will bend towards the normal
