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igcse physics notesprinted 86 · PDF 86
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printed 86 · PDF 86
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Calculating speed of waves:
It is distance covered by a wave per unit time and its formula is v=d/t where
“v” is speed in meters/second, “d” is distance in meters and “t” is time in
seconds. It can also be transformed into v=λ/t where “λ” is the wavelength
of a wave.
Frequency of waves: It is the number of complete waves produced in one
second or number of waves passing through a point in one second.
Time period: Time taken for one complete wave to produce. It is inversely
proportional to frequency thus we can say that f=1/t or t=1/f. Therefore, we
can transform the formula of speed to s=fλ.
Transverse waves: Waves in which particles move perpendicular to the
direction of wave motion. For example electromagnetic waves, water
waves. These waves do not require a medium to travel.
Properties of transverse waves:
Crest: The highest position reached by a particle of the medium in a
transverse wave.
Trough: The lowest position reached by a particle of the medium in a
transverse wave.