Waves in air, fluids and solids common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Properties of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: Required practical: measure wavelength using a ruler or scaled image of wavefronts..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to required practical: measure wavelength using a ruler or scaled image of wavefronts..

• Properties of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: Required practical: determine frequency using an oscillator, signal generator or timing method where appropriate..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to required practical: determine frequency using an oscillator, signal generator or timing method where appropriate..

• Properties of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: Required practical: calculate wave speed from measured frequency and wavelength..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to required practical: calculate wave speed from measured frequency and wavelength..

• Properties of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: Required practical: evaluate uncertainty and repeatability in wave-speed measurements..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to required practical: evaluate uncertainty and repeatability in wave-speed measurements..

• Reflection and refraction of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: Describe reflection as a change in direction when a wave meets a boundary and remains in the same medium..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to describe reflection as a change in direction when a wave meets a boundary and remains in the same medium..

• Reflection and refraction of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: State that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection for reflection from a plane surface..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to state that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection for reflection from a plane surface..

• Reflection and refraction of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: Draw and label the normal, incident ray and reflected ray in a reflection diagram..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to draw and label the normal, incident ray and reflected ray in a reflection diagram..

• Reflection and refraction of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: Explain refraction as a change in direction when a wave changes speed at a boundary between media..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to explain refraction as a change in direction when a wave changes speed at a boundary between media..

• Reflection and refraction of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: Describe how refraction depends on a change in wave speed..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to describe how refraction depends on a change in wave speed..

• Reflection and refraction of waves common mistake 1

  Giving a vague answer instead of directly addressing: Distinguish reflection from refraction in wave-boundary contexts..

  Fix itAnswer by clearly explaining how to distinguish reflection from refraction in wave-boundary contexts..