P1 A spectrum of waves

Wave properties
1. The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a particle from its rest postiion
2. The crest of a wave is the highest point on a wave above its rest position
3. The trough of a wave is the lowest point on a wave below its rest position
4. The wavelength of a wave is the distance between who successive points on a wave having the same displacement and moving in the same direction
5. The frequency of a wave is the number of complete waves passing a point in one second
6. Wave speed = frequency x wavelength
Getting messages across
1. Some optical instruments use two or more plane mirrors
2. Refraction occurs because the speed of waves decreases as the wave enters a more dense medium and increases as the wave enters a less dense medium. The frequency stays the same but the wavelength changes
3. Diffraction is the spreading out of a wave as it passes through a gap.
4. The size of a communications receiver depends on the wavelength of the radiation

Resource summary

	Created by saadiecook over 11 years ago