CHAPTER 1

WAVES.

Learning Objective
1.1 Understanding waves
Learning Outcomes
A student is able to :

• Describe what is meant by wave motion.

• Recognise that waves transfer energy without transferring matter.
• Compare transverse and longitudinal waves and give examples of each.
• State what is meant by a wavefront.
State the direction of propagation of waves in relation to wavefronts
• Define
i. amplitude
ii. period,
iii. frequency,
iv. wavelength,
v. wave speed.
• Sketch and interpret a displacement-time graph for a wave.
• Sketch and interpret a displacement-distance graph for a wave,
• Sketch and interpret a displacement-time graph for a wave.
• Sketch and interpret a displacement-distance graph for a wave,
• Clarify the relationship between speed, wavelength and frequency
• Solve problems involving speed, wavelength and frequency.
• Describe damping in a oscillating system.
• Describe resonance in a oscillating system.

1.Fill in the blanks by choosing a words given.

parallel perpendicular rarefraction trough compression crest

a) The wave that travels along the spring consists of a series(1)compression.and

(2)rarefraction.
b) A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the vibratiton of the medium is(3) parallel to
the direction of propagation of the wave.

c) A transverse wave is produced when the vibration of the medium is(3) perpendicular
to the direction of propagation of wave.

d) The wavelength is the distance between two adjacent(4) crest or two adjacent
(5)trough.

( 6 marks)

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 2. Match the following terms with the meaning given.

Terms Meaning
The displacement of a
Wavefront 1 3 crest or a trough from
the equilibrium position
of a wave.
The number of waves
Wavelength 2 4 produced by a source
in one unit time.
The distance between
Amplitude 3 2 two adjacent points of
the same phase on
wave.
4 1 Lines joining all points
Frequency of the same phase.
5 The measurement of
Wavespeed 5 how fast a crest is
moving from a fixed
point.
6 Time taken for an
Period 6 oscillation to complete
one cycle.

3. Complete the chart given below with suitable words.

a) In a damping oscillation, period and frequency remain constant while amplitude

decreases.

b)

1.Oscillating
hacksaw 2.Simple
blade pendullum

Damping in oscillating system

3.Loaded 4’.An oscillating

spring float

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 b) Given two factors damping causes part of the energy as oscillating system lost to
surrounding:
i. Frictional force.5
ii. Air resistance/ sound energy.6

( 6 marks)

4. Figure shows the displacement-distance and displacement –time graphs of an

oscillating system.

From the graphs determine the…….

a) Period: 0.4 s (1)

b) Frequency: f = 1/T = 1 /0.4 = 2.5 Hz(2)
c) Wavelength : from displacement-distance graph, λ = 4 cm.(3)
d) Speed of the waves.:V =fλ , 2.5 X 4= 10.0cm s-1 (4)

( 4 marks)

Learning Objective

1.2 Analysing rerflection of waves

Learning Outcomes
A student is able to :

• Describe reflection of waves in terms of the angle of incidence, angle of reflection,

wavelength, frequency, speed and direction of propagation.
.
• Draw a diagram to show reflection of waves.

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 5..Diagram 1.1 and 1.2 shows water waves and sound waves propagating towards a
reflector.

Normal

Incident
wavefront

Direction of reflected waves

Diagram 1.1

Hard surface
Card board tube i r

Stop Ear
watc
h
Soft board

Diagram 1.2

a) i) What is meant by reflected waves?

Waves that propogate after the incident waves collides with barrier.(1)

ii) Complete the diagrams 1.1 and 1.2 with correct dirction of waves.
iii) With refrence to diagram 1.1 and 1.2,compare the incident and reflected angle,
wavelenght, frequency,speed and direction of propagation of the reflected wave with the
incident wave. Fill in the blanks.

2. Angle of reflection =.the angle of incidence

unchanged
3.Wavelength remains
unchanged
4.Frequency remains
unchange
5.Speed remains

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 6. changes
Direction of the propagation

iii) State the principal of the reflection of waves.

Angle of reflection = angle of incident.7.

(7 marks)

Learning Objective

1.3 Analysing refraction of waves

Learning Outcomes
A student is able to :

• describe refraction of waves in terms angle of incidence, angle of refraction,

wavelength, frequency , speed and direction of propagation.
• Draw a diagram to show refraction of waves.

6.Figure below shows the plane waves approaching a convex-shaped shallow area.
Shallow area

Incident waves

Deep area Deep area

Complete the diagram by drawing the wavefronts of the waves entering the shallow area.
( 1 (for direction) 2 (for pattern of waves)

2. Diagram below shows the phenomena of refraction of water wave of the sea water

1. Why are the speed and wavelength of waves in the middle of the sea almost
uniform?

The depth of water in the middle of the sea is almost uniform.

2. Why do the distances between the wavefronts decrease as the waves approach the

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 beach?
On approaching the beach, the depth of water decreases. The speed of waves
decrees and the wavelength is decreased.
3. Why is the water in the bay stationary compared to the water at the cape?
i. The depth of water varies across the area of the bay
ii.The energy of the water wave spreads to a wider area as compared to the region
near the cape
iiiThe amplitude of the water wave near the bay is low and hence the water at the bay
is comparatively still

Learning Objective
1.4 Analysing diffraction of waves
Learning Outcomes
A student is able to
• describe diffraction of waves in terms of wavelength, frequency, speed, direction of
propagation and shape of waves,
• draw a diagram to show diffraction of waves.

1. Diagram 1 shows a listener who is able to hear the sound of the radio behind the wall of
a building.

Diagram 1.

Name the wave phenomenon shown in the diagram above diffraction

2. Diffraction of waves is a phenomenon in which waves spread out as
they pass through a gap or round an obstacle
3. Diagram 3a and 3b shows water waves passing through a narrow gap and a wider gap
respectively.

Diagram 3a Diagram 3b

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(a) Complete diagrams 3a and 3b above to show the wave pattern after passing through
the gaps
(b) Based on your answer in (a) state the relationship between the wavelength , size of the
gaps and the wave pattern formed.

If the wavelength ≥ size of gap , the wave pattern becomes more circular /
If the wavelength < size of gap , the wave pattern becomes less circular.

(c) Compare the water waves before and after passing through the gap in terms of

i. wavelength is constant
ii. Frequency is constant
iii. speed is constant
iv. amplitude decreases.

4. Diagram 4 shows light from a laser pen is diffracted if it passes through a narrow slit
comparable in size to its wavelength.

(a) In the space below , draw and label the diffraction pattern of light through a narrow
slit.

(b) As the light passes through the single slit , it is diffracted to produce a wide bright
fringe fringe at the centre.

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 (c) After diffraction , interference also occur to produce alternate bright and dark fringes
at the side of the middle bright fringe.

(d) The bright fringe is caused by constructive interference and the dark fringe is
produced by , destructive interference.

Learning Objective

1.5 Interference of Waves

Learning Outcomes
A student is able to :

• state the principle of superposition

• explain the interference of waves
• draw interference patterns
• interpret interference patterns
• apply the following formula in problem solving

ax
λ=
D

1. State the Principle of Superposition of waves.

When two waves interfered , the resulting displacement is the algebraic

sum of the displacements of the individual waves.

2. Interference is the superposition of two coherent waves. Two waves are coherent if
they have the same wavelength , same frequency and constant phase difference.

3. Complete the table below

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(a)
Superposition
of two crests Constructive
interference

(b)
Superposition
of two Constructive
troughs interference

(c)
Superposition
of a crest and Destructive
a trough interference

4. Diagram 4 shows an interference pattern produced by two coherent sources P and Q

A N

P Q
Diagram 4

A- Antinodal line , N – Nodal line

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In the diagram above , draw and label one antinodal and one nodal line.

5. Complete the table below to compare sound and light waves.

Light Sound
Constructive Bright fringes Loud sound
interference
Destructive Dark fringe Soft sound
interference

6.Diagram 6 shows an experiment to study the interference of light waves.

Diagram 6
(a) What is meant by monochromatic light ?
Light with one colour/one wavelength
(b) In the boxes above , label a , x and D where
a = distance between 2 sources of waves
x = distance between 2 bright fringes
D = perpendicular distance between waves source to the position where x is
measured.

(c ) What is the relationship between a, x, D and λ?

ax
λ=
D
(d ) Calculate the wavelength of light used if a = 0. 2 mm , x = 3 mm , and D is 4 m.

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 (0.2 x10 −3 )( 3 x10 −3 )
λ = = 0.15 x 10-6 = 1.5 x 10 -7
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7 Two loud speakers placed 2 m apart are connected to an audio signal generator
that is adjusted to produce sound waves of frequency 550 Hz. The detection of
loud and soft sounds as a person moves along a line is at 4.0 m from the
loudspeakers. The distance between 2 consecutive loud sounds is 0.5 m.

Calculate the
(a) Wavelength of the sound waves.
( 2)( 0.5)
λ= = 0.25 m
4

(b) speed of the sound waves.

v = f λ =550 x 0.25 = 137.5 ms-1

Learning Objective

1.6 Sound Waves

Learning Outcomes
A student is able to :
• describe sound waves
• explain how the loudness relates to amplitude.
• explain how the pitch relates to frequency.
• describe applications of reflection of sound waves.
• calculate distances using the reflection of sound waves.

1. Fill in the blanks.

(a) Sound waves are longitudinal waves .
(b) Sound waves are produced when a vibrating object causes air molecules around
it to vibrate and producing a series of compression and rarefaction.

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2. Diagram 2 shows a tuning fork producing sound waves.

Diagram 2

(a) Label the wavelength

(b) Label areas of compression and rarefaction
3. Complete the concept map below.

Low pitch, loud sound, soft sound, high pitch

Sound
waves

loudness pitch
depends on depends on
amplitude frequency

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4. Diagram 4 shows a submarine transmitting ultrasonic waves directed at a big rock on
the sea bed. After sometime, the submarine detects the wave again.

DIAGRAM 4.

(a) State the wave

phenomenon
involved.

Reflection

(b) State 2 reasons

why the submarine used ultrasonic wave but not ordinary sound wave.

1. Ultrasonic has high frequency

2. Ultrasonic can be reflected easily

(c) Calculate the distance of the submarine from the big rock if the submarine
detects the second wave after 1.5 seconds. [Velocity of ultrasonic wave =
1560 m s-1]

vt 1560 ×1.5
d= =
2 2
= 1170 m

(d) State 2 other applications of sound waves.

1. Sonar- using ultrasound to lacate underwater objects.
2. Ultrasound scanner – use to scan and capture image of a fetus in a
mother’s womb.

Learning Objective

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1.7 Analysing electromagnetic spectrum

Learning Outcomes
1. Diagram 1 show the electromagnetic spectrum. Write the names of the electromagnetic

Visible light X - ray

microwave

waves in the boxes provided.

Diagram 1

2. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves ,consisting of electric fields and

magnetic fields vibrating perpendicular to each other.

3. Gamma rays has the highest frequency and the shortest wavelength.

4. List 4 properties of electromagnetic waves.

• They transfer energy from one place to another.

• They are transverse waves
• They can travel through a vacuum
• They travel at a speed of approximately 3 x 108 m s-1 in vacuum
• They all show the wave properties : reflection, refraction, diffraction
and interference
• They carry no charge
• They can be emitted and absorbed by matter

5. Diagram 2 show electromagnetic waves. Match the correct source by drawing lines from
the boxes to the respective sources.

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6. Name the electromagnetic wave which is used in the following appliance:

(i) FM Radio Radio waves

(ii) Oven microwaves

(iii) Communication Satellite microwave

(iv) Taking pictures of bones X rays

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