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Theme C — Wave Behaviour

C.2.1 Properties of Waves — IB Physics HL Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 9 parts Lesson 12 of 37 1 quiz

📚 IB Physics HL 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.2.1 Properties of Waves — IB PHYSICS SL notes: Describe a wave using displacement, amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period and speed, and use v = fλ.Travelling wave — a repeating disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matterWaves are g…

  • Particle motion
  • Mechanical waves
  • Electromagnetic waves
  • Displacement x (m)
  • Amplitude x0 (m)
  • Wavelength λ (m)

Section 1 of 9What a wave is

What a wave is
Travelling wave
  • Travelling wave a repeating disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter
  • Waves are generated by oscillating sources and travel away from them.
Particle motion
  • Particle motion each particle of the medium, or point of the field, oscillates about a fixed equilibrium position
  • A cork on a pond bobs up and down as ripples pass but does not travel with them.
Mechanical waves
  • Mechanical waves sound, water waves and waves on a string need a medium whose particles interact
Electromagnetic waves
  • Electromagnetic waves they need no medium and travel through a vacuum

Section 2 of 9Quantities describing a wave

Displacement x (m)
  • Displacement x (m) the distance of a point from its equilibrium position, which can be positive or negative
Amplitude x0 (m)
  • Amplitude x0 (m) the maximum magnitude of displacement from equilibrium
  • It relates to the energy carried.
Wavelength λ (m)
  • Wavelength λ (m) the shortest distance between two points that are in phase, such as crest to crest
Period T (s)
  • Period T (s) the time for one complete oscillation to pass a fixed point
Frequency f (Hz)
  • Frequency f (Hz) the number of complete oscillations passing a fixed point per second
Wave speed v (m s−1)
  • Wave speed v (m s−1) the distance travelled by the pattern, and hence the energy, per unit time

Section 3 of 9Wave equation

Period and frequency
  • Period and frequency f = 1/T
    What the symbols mean: T = period, the time for one complete wave (s) · f = frequency (Hz)
  • The source sets the frequency, and it does not change when the wave enters a new medium.
Derivation
  • Derivation in one period the pattern advances one wavelength, so v = λ/T, which gives v = fλ
For light
  • For light in a vacuum v is replaced by c, so c = fλ
Constant speed
  • Constant speed a higher frequency means a shorter wavelength, and a longer wavelength means a lower frequency

Section 4 of 9Reading wave graphs

1Displacement–distance graph
  • Displacement–distance graph a snapshot at one instant that shows the wave shape along the direction of travel
  • The spacing between neighbouring peaks is the wavelength.
  • The maximum height is the amplitude.
2Displacement–time graph
  • Displacement–time graph it follows one point as time passes
  • The spacing between neighbouring peaks is the period.
  • The maximum height is still the amplitude.
3Marking arrows
  • Marking arrows draw them from the top of one peak to the top of the next, and measure amplitude from equilibrium
4Units
  • Units convert cm to m and ms to s before substituting

Section 5 of 9Phase

1In phase
  • In phase points a whole number of wavelengths apart move together
2Antiphase
  • Antiphase points an odd number of half-wavelengths apart always move in opposite directions
3Phase difference
  • Phase difference for two points a distance d apart it is 2πd/λ radians, or 360°d/λ

Section 6 of 9Wavefronts and intensity

Wavefront
  • Wavefront a line or surface joining points of the same phase
  • The ray is the direction of travel and is perpendicular to the wavefront.
Intensity
  • Intensity the energy per second passing through unit area at right angles to the wave, in W m−2
Amplitude link
  • Amplitude link intensity is proportional to the square of the amplitude, I ∝ x02
  • Doubling the amplitude quadruples the intensity.
Point source
  • Point source the energy spreads over a sphere, so I ∝ 1/r2
Sinusoidal form
  • Sinusoidal form a travelling sinusoidal wave shows as a sine curve in both kinds of graph

Section 7 of 9More from the specification

1Transverse vs Longitudinal Waves
  • Waves are classified by particle vibration direction: in transverse waves vibrations are perpendicular to the direction waves propagate,
  • while in longitudinal waves oscillations are parallel.
2Wave Equation
  • The wave equation relates wave speed v (in m/s), frequency f (in Hz),
  • and wavelength lambda as v = f * lambda, applicable across all mechanical and electromagnetic waves.
    • (defined in metres)
3Electromagnetic Spectrum
  • Electromagnetic waves propagate through vacuum at 3.0 * 108 m/s, spanning a continuous spectrum of wavelengths from gamma rays to radio waves.
4Audible Sound Wave Range
  • Sounds propagate as mechanical longitudinal compression waves through matter, with normal human hearing spanning an audible frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
5Spectrum
  • Range of colours in white light.
6Longitudinal wave
  • Wave whose vibrations are parallel to the direction of travel
7Transverse wave
  • Wave whose vibration is at right angles to the direction of propagation
8Electromagnetic spectrum
  • Continuous family of waves from radio waves to gamma rays

Section 8 of 9Key terms

TermMeaning
AmplitudeMaximum magnitude of displacement from equilibrium.
WavelengthShortest distance between two points in phase.
PeriodTime for one complete oscillation, T = 1/f.
FrequencyNumber of oscillations per second, in hertz.
WavefrontA line or surface of points that are in phase.
IntensityPower per unit area received perpendicular to the wave direction.
Phase differenceFraction of a cycle by which two points are out of step.

Section 9 of 9Exam technique

1
Reading wavelength from a displacement–time graph — the horizontal spacing there is the period.
2
Thinking the particles of the medium travel along with the wave — they only oscillate about equilibrium.
3
Quoting amplitude as peak-to-peak height — it is measured from equilibrium to a peak.
4
Saying frequency changes when a wave enters a new medium — the source fixes the frequency.
5
Forgetting that intensity depends on amplitude squared, not amplitude.

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