Unit 2 Waves

F= frequency (Hz) the number of waves a second

T= Period (sec) time for one wave/cycle
λ= Wave Length (m)
V= Speed of the wave

Intensity is the rate of flow of energy per unit area at right angles to the direction of
travel of the wave. Measured in Wm-2 intensity is proportional to the amplitude2

Phase Difference is the amount by which one wave lags behind another wave. This is
measured by degrees or radians.

Reflection is when the wave is bounced back when it hits a boundary.

Refraction is when the wave changes direction as it enters a different medium the
direction change is due to a change in speed.

Longitudinal: vibrations are in the same direction as the direction of the wave.
Transverse: vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of the wave
V=F x λ V= displacement/time
V=distance moved (λ)/time taken (1/F)

Frequency is the inverse of the period so 1Hz is 1s-1

F=1/T
All electromagnetic waves are transverse. They are drawn with disp x dist/time, both
graphs produce essentially the same shape

Longitudinal waves are generally sound waves, they include compressions and
rarefactions, they cant travel through vacuums because they compress and stretch the
medium that they travel through.

A polarised wave only oscillates in one direction, ordinary waves are a mix od
different directions of vibrations. The polarising filter only transmits vibrations in one
direction. If you have 2 of the polarising filters at right angles then it blocks out all of
the light. This only works for transverse waves.

When light
reflects it is partially polarised, this effect is used in photography and in sunglasses to
remove glare. When you view the reflected light through a polarising filter you can
see the intensity of the light change.

If 2 polarising filters are placed at right angles so no light gets threw,

then the material you want to test is places between the filters, as the
material is rotated you will notice light pass through the 2nd filter, due to
the material changing the plane of polarised light, the amount you turn
the material is the amount the material rotates the light.
Rotating the plane of polarisation affects the intensity and amplitude

The amplitude of the transmitted wave is the component of the incident wave in the
direction of the new plane of polarisation
A= Aicosθ
Ai=amplitude of the incident wave

The intensity of the transmitted light is proportional to the amplitude squared this is
Malus’s law
I= Iicos2θ