Chapter 10
General properties of waves
A wave transfers energy as a disturbance travels.
Distinguish wave travel from particle motion and use measured spacing and time to calculate speed or distance.
Includes transverse and longitudinal waves, sound, echoes and ultrasound. For K323 (2027) / 6091 (2026).
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What travels in a wave?
Separate particle vibration from propagation and compare transverse and longitudinal waves.
Wave quantities and graphs
Read amplitude and wavelength from a snapshot, and period and frequency from a time trace.
Determining wave speed
Connect frequency, wavelength and speed, and interpret wave measurements.
Sound, pitch and loudness
Explain sound transmission through a medium and compare amplitude with frequency.
Echoes and distance
Trace the outward and return paths before calculating a reflecting surface's distance.
Using ultrasound
Explain pulse-echo measurements in sonar and soft-tissue scanning.