Chapter 10
Wave Motion
Identify what oscillates, which coordinate is being plotted and how energy is transferred before using a wave equation.
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Propagation and particle motion
Identify the oscillating quantity and distinguish its local motion from propagation and energy transfer.
Transverse graphs and phase
Distinguish a spatial snapshot from a fixed-point time trace and relate phase to distance and delay.
Read longitudinal waves
Connect signed longitudinal displacement, compression and separate space and time graphs.
Wave speed, frequency and wavelength
Derive v = f lambda and apply it to mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves in vacuum.
Intensity and spreading
Relate power per area to amplitude and compare distances under a point-source model.
Polarisation and filter axes
Use transverse directions and the current incident polarisation to calculate transmitted amplitude and intensity.