BTEC Applied Science - Unit 1 - Physics Exam 2024-2025
periodic time
the time period (in seconds) taken for one complete cycle of a wave, vibration, or
oscillation
T=1/f
period of time, T (in seconds) and frequency, f (in hertz)
wave speed
the distance in metres (m) travelled by a wave in one second (s)
wavelength
the distance (in metres) between two nearest corresponding points on a wave, e.g. the
distance between two peaks (crests)
frequency
the number of waves produced in one second or number of waves passing a point per
second
amplitude
the maximum displacement of a wave from its undisturbed position
oscillation
a regular repetitive motion, e.g. a weight on a spring bouncing up and down, or a
pendulum swinging backwards and forwards
, transverse
a wave in which the direction of oscillations is at right angles to the direction of the wave
longitudinal
a wave in which the direction of oscillations is parallel to the direction of the wave
displacement
the oscillating distance of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position
coherence
two or more sources of waves that have the same frequency and are in phase or have a
constant phase difference
path difference
the difference between the distances two waves have traveled when arriving at a point
where they meet usually expressed as a multiple of their wavelengths. phase difference
the extent to which one wave leads or lags (falls behind) another wave in its motion
usually measured in degrees, with 360° representing one complete wave cycle. in phase
describes two waves that have zero phase difference. antiphase completely out of
phase
when two waves have a phase difference of 180⁰ (half a wave cycle)
superposition
when two or more waves combine; their displacements are added together
(displacements can cancel each other out)
constructive interference
when the superposition of two waves cause the displacement to increase (greater
amplitude)
destructive interference
when the superposition of two waves cause the displacement to decrease (smaller
amplitude, even zero)
periodic time
the time period (in seconds) taken for one complete cycle of a wave, vibration, or
oscillation
T=1/f
period of time, T (in seconds) and frequency, f (in hertz)
wave speed
the distance in metres (m) travelled by a wave in one second (s)
wavelength
the distance (in metres) between two nearest corresponding points on a wave, e.g. the
distance between two peaks (crests)
frequency
the number of waves produced in one second or number of waves passing a point per
second
amplitude
the maximum displacement of a wave from its undisturbed position
oscillation
a regular repetitive motion, e.g. a weight on a spring bouncing up and down, or a
pendulum swinging backwards and forwards
, transverse
a wave in which the direction of oscillations is at right angles to the direction of the wave
longitudinal
a wave in which the direction of oscillations is parallel to the direction of the wave
displacement
the oscillating distance of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position
coherence
two or more sources of waves that have the same frequency and are in phase or have a
constant phase difference
path difference
the difference between the distances two waves have traveled when arriving at a point
where they meet usually expressed as a multiple of their wavelengths. phase difference
the extent to which one wave leads or lags (falls behind) another wave in its motion
usually measured in degrees, with 360° representing one complete wave cycle. in phase
describes two waves that have zero phase difference. antiphase completely out of
phase
when two waves have a phase difference of 180⁰ (half a wave cycle)
superposition
when two or more waves combine; their displacements are added together
(displacements can cancel each other out)
constructive interference
when the superposition of two waves cause the displacement to increase (greater
amplitude)
destructive interference
when the superposition of two waves cause the displacement to decrease (smaller
amplitude, even zero)
