Waves, sound and light: Identify, describe and apply principles of waves

• Identify and describe vibration and oscillation as a periodic motion.
• Define period, frequency and amplitude.
• Define a wave and identify different examples.
• Describe the nature of waves. (A disturbance that travels and not the medium or energy that is carried or transferred.)
• Distinguish between the two categories of waves, longitudinal and transverse, and identify examples.
• Identify particle position on graphs showing displacement to illustrate difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.
• Draw, label and interpret a displacement-position graph of a simple harmonic wave showing wavelength and amplitude.
• Calculate frequency, period and wave speed and wavelength of a transverse wave.
• Describe the effect of medium on wave speed.
• Distinguish between standing and moving waves.
• Identify and describe superposition in standing waves.

By the end of this unit you will be able to:

• Identify and describe vibration and oscillation as a periodic motion.
• Describe the nature of waves.
• Define and identify a wave.
• Define the concepts period, frequency and amplitude.

By the end of this unit you will be able to:

• Distinguish between the two categories of waves, namely longitudinal and transverse.
• Identify examples of longitudinal and transverse waves.
• Identify particle position on graphs showing displacement to illustrate the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves.
• Draw, label and interpret a displacement-position graph of a simple harmonic wave showing wavelength and amplitude.

By the end of this unit you will be able to:

• Calculate frequency, period, wave speed and wavelength of a transverse wave.
• Describe the effect of the medium on wave speed.

By the end of this unit you will be able to:

• Distinguish between standing and moving waves.
• Identify and describe superposition in standing waves.