waves

waves

1. TYPES OF WAVE

   • TRANSVERSE
     • E.G.LIGHT WAVES
     • VIBRATIONS ARE 90^O TO THE DIRECTION OF WAVE TRAVEL
   • LONGINTUDAL
     • ALONG THE SAME DIRECTION OF WAVE TRAVEL
     • E.G.SOUND WAVES

2. CHARACTERISTICS

   • WAVES TRAVEL FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER
   • AMPLITUDE - THE DISTANCE FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE PEAK
   • WAVELENGTH - THE DISTANCE OF ONE COMPLETE CYCLE
   • FREQUENCY IS THE NUMBER OF WAVES PASS A POINT IN A SECOND

3. ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

   • CONTAINS 7 TYPES OF WAVE
     • 2) X-RAYS
     • 3) ULTRAVIOLET WAVES
     • 4) VISIBLE LIGHT
     • 5) INFRARED WAVES
     • 6) MICROWAVES
     • 7) RADIO WAVES
     • 1) GAMMA RAYS
   • 1 HAVING SHORTEST WAVELENGTH AND THE HIGHEST FREQUENCY

4. WAVE BEHAVIOUR

   • REFLECTION
     • ANGLE OF INCIDENCE = ANGLE OF REFLECTION
     • ALL WAVES CAN BE REFLECTED
   • REFRACTION
     • THE CHANGE IN DIRECTION OF A WAVE PASSING FROM ONE MEDIUM TO ANOTHER
   • DIFFRACTION
     • THE SPREADING OUT OF A WAVE WHEN IT PASSES THROUGH A GAP

5. USES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

   • RADIO WAVES = COMMUNICATIONS
   • MICROWAVE RADIATION = COOKING / TV SATELITES
   • INFRARED WAVES = ELECTRICAL HEATER / INFRARED CAMERAS
   • VISIBLE LIGHT = FIBRE OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS
   • ULTRAVIOLET WAVES = ENERGY EFFICIENT BULBS / SUNBEDS
   • X-RAYS = MEDICAL IMAGERY / TREATMENTS
   • GAMMA RAYS = STERILISING FOOD / TREATMENT FOR TUMOURS