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Theme C — Wave Behaviour

C.2 Wave Model — IB Physics SL Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 9 parts Lesson 8 of 31 1 quiz

📚 IB Physics SL Hub / Topical Revision
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Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
Word Equation & Conditions: الرقم الهيدروجيني = -لوغاريتم تركيز أيون الهيدروجين | pH + pOH = 14
Location & Specifications: الاتزان الأيوني، كيمياء 3 ثانوي، التحصيلي، و AP Chemistry.
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Lesson summary

C.2 Wave Model — IB PHYSICS SL notes: Describe travelling waves, distinguish transverse from longitudinal and mechanical from electromagnetic waves, and apply the wave equation.Travelling wave — an oscillation that transfers energy from place to place without transferring matterS…

  • Propagation
  • Wavelength
  • Amplitude and frequency
  • Pitch and loudness
  • Transverse wave
  • Longitudinal wave

Part 1 of 7Travelling waves

Travelling wave
  • Travelling wave an oscillation that transfers energy from place to place without transferring matter
Source
  • Source a wave starts at an oscillating source
Propagation
  • Propagation each point of the medium or field repeats the source oscillation with a time delay
  • Each particle only oscillates about its equilibrium position.
  • The energy moves outward at speed v.

Part 2 of 7Wave quantities

Wavelength
  • λ is the distance between neighbouring points in phase
  • It is read from a displacement–distance graph.
Period
  • T is the time for one oscillation of a point
  • It is read from a displacement–time graph.
Amplitude and frequency
  • Amplitude and frequency x0 is the maximum displacement and f is the number of oscillations per second

Part 3 of 7Wave equation

Equation
  • Equation v = λ/T = fλ
  • In one period the wave advances one wavelength.
Frequency
  • Frequency it is set by the source
Speed
  • Speed it is set by the medium

Part 4 of 7Transverse and longitudinal waves

Transverse
  • Transverse particles or fields oscillate at right angles to the direction of energy transfer
  • Examples are waves on a string, water surface waves and all electromagnetic waves.
  • They have crests and troughs.
Longitudinal
  • Longitudinal particles oscillate parallel to the direction of energy transfer
  • They produce compressions (high pressure) and rarefactions (low pressure).
  • Sound is the example.

Part 5 of 7Sound

Medium
  • Medium sound is a longitudinal mechanical wave that needs a medium
Speed
  • Speed it is fastest in solids and slowest in gases, about 340 m s−1 in air
Pitch and loudness
  • Pitch and loudness pitch relates to frequency and loudness relates to amplitude

Part 6 of 7Electromagnetic waves

Nature
  • Nature oscillating electric and magnetic fields at right angles to each other and to the direction of travel
Speed
  • Speed all travel at c = 3.00 × 108 m s−1 in a vacuum
Spectrum
  • Spectrum in order of decreasing wavelength they are radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays
  • Visible light runs from about 700 nm (red) to 400 nm (violet).

Part 7 of 7Mechanical and electromagnetic waves compared

FeatureMechanicalElectromagnetic
MediumRequiredNot required
TypeTransverse or longitudinalTransverse
SpeedDepends on medium; much less than cc in a vacuum
ExampleSound, water wavesLight, X-rays

Key terms

TermMeaning
WavelengthThe shortest distance between two points on a wave that are in phase.
Transverse waveA wave in which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
Longitudinal waveA wave in which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
CompressionA region of a longitudinal wave where the pressure is above normal.
RarefactionA region of a longitudinal wave where the pressure is below normal.
Mechanical waveA wave that needs a material medium.
Electromagnetic waveA transverse wave of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that can travel through a vacuum.

Avoid these mistakes

Avoid these mistakes
Saying waves transfer matter — they transfer energy only.
Reading wavelength from a displacement–time graph — that graph gives the period.
Saying frequency changes when a wave enters a new medium — the source fixes it.

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