topic C physics SL

transverse waves

the displacement of particles is perpendicular to the waves movement

in SHM velocity is at its max at and 0 at ..

1. max at equilibrium position

2. 0 at maximum displacement (turning points)

In SHM acceleration is at its max at

when object is furthest from the center because restoring force is stronger there

Traveling waves

waves that can propagate

mechanical waves

waves that need a medium to travel trough

transverse waves

the displacement of particles is perpendicular to the wave movements

longitudinal waves

the displacement of particles is parallel to the wave movements

compressions

areas with high density

rarefactions

areas with low density

electromagnetic waves

waves who do not need to have a medium to travel through (light)

characteristics of traveling waves 4

1. reflection

2. refraction

3. diffraction

4. interference

refraction

waves bend going from one medium to another/ change in direction of a wave

reflection

when one wave goes from one medium to another part of the wave can reflect, the angle at which the lights reflects can be the same as the incident angle

diffraction

the spreading of a wave when thy pass through a gap or around an obstacle

critical angle (3 parts)

1. the smallest angle at which the wave will be fully reflected back.

2. the angle of incidence where the angle of refraction is 90 degrees

3. critical angle only exists when a wave travels from a denser medium (slower) to a less dense medium (faster), thus N1>N2

total internal reflection

because the critical angle is exceeded, all the light is reflected

optical fiber

a thin strand of glass or clear plastic

wave fronts (3)

1. any line joining points that are in phase

2. are the peaks and throughs of the wave

3. there perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer (rays)

superposition principle

the total displacement is the sum of the displacement of each wave/the possibility to add or subtract waves

destructive interference

two out of phase waves add vectorially to cancel

constructieve interference

two in phase waves add vectorially to give a wave of twice the amplitude

dispersion

waves if different frequencies travel at a different speed through a medium causing them to spread out

double-source interference only possible when waves are

coherent, same frequency, similar amplitude and a constant phase diffrence

light fringes (maxima)

appear at points where waves add up

dark fringes (minima)

appears at points where they subtract

first harmonic

least possible amount of nodes and antinodes

standing wave occurs when

a wave reflects (at the boundary) back on itself and interferes with itself (due to superposition traps the wave into a standing pattern)

nodes

a point in a standing wave where no movement occurs due to to destructive interference between the orginal and reflected wave

antinodes

a point in a standing waves with maximum displacement due to constructive interference