Sciences - Co-ordinated (9-1) - 0973 CIE

General Properties Of Waves Continued

Overview

Drop a stone in a pond and circular ripples spread out; they bounce off a wall, bend where the water is shallow, and spread through a gap. Those same three behaviours, reflection, refraction and diffraction, are shown by every wave, from water ripples to light and sound.

In this lesson you will distinguish longitudinal from transverse waves, describe how waves reflect, refract and diffract, and explain how a ripple tank demonstrates each one. You will also learn how the size of a gap and the wavelength control how much a wave spreads out.

Objectives

  1. Know that for a longitudinal wave, the direction of vibration is parallel to the direction of propagation and understand that sound waves and seismic P-waves (primary) can be modelled as longitudinal
  2. Describe how waves can undergo: (a) reflection at a plane surface (b) refraction due to a change of speed (c) diffraction through a narrow gap
  3. Describe the use of a ripple tank to show: (a) reflection at a plane surface (b) refraction due to a change in speed caused by a change in depth (c) diffraction due to a gap (d) diffraction due to an edge
  4. [Supplement] Describe how wavelength and gap size affects diffraction through a gap
  5. [Supplement] Describe how wavelength affects diffraction at an edge

Lesson Note

Reflection, refraction and diffraction are the shared grammar of all waves. Understanding them once, with water in a ripple tank, lets you explain echoes, the bending of light in a lens, and why you can hear around a corner. Examiners often set these in the ripple-tank context, so knowing the apparatus is worth marks.

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on General Properties Of Waves Continued. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

  1. In a longitudinal wave, the vibration is: A. at right angles to the direction of travel B. parallel to the direction of travel C. always vertical D. zero Answer: B
  2. Which wave is longitudinal? A. light B. water ripples C. sound D. a wave on a rope Answer: C
  3. When a wave refracts, the quantity that stays the same is the: A. speed B. wavelength C. frequency D. direction Answer: C
  4. Diffraction through a gap is greatest when the gap is: A. much larger than the wavelength B. about equal to the wavelength C. zero D. unrelated to the wavelength Answer: B
  5. Water waves slow down as they move into shallower water. Their wavelength: A. increases B. decreases C. stays the same D. becomes zero Answer: B

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Practice Mock Questions

Want to practice mock questions on General Properties Of Waves Continued? Download the Green Bridge CBT app to access mock questions and full practice assessments for this topic.

Download The App On Google Playstore

Everything you need to excel in JAMB, WAEC & NECO

Green Bridge CBT Mobile App
Personalized AI Learning Chat Assistant
Thousands of JAMB, WAEC & NECO Past Questions
Over 1200 Lesson Notes
Offline Support - Learn Anytime, Anywhere
Green Bridge Timetable
Literature Summaries & Potential Questions
Track Your Performance & Progress
In-depth Explanations for Comprehensive Learning