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General properties of waves
Understand that waves carry energy without moving matter from one place to another.
10
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100
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70
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90 min
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CambridgeIGCSEPhysicsSubject content
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General properties of waves outcomes10 objectives
- Understand that waves carry energy without moving matter from one place to another.
- Explain wave motion using examples such as vibrations in ropes and springs, as well as experiments with water waves.
- Identify and describe the characteristics of a wave, including wavefront, wavelength, frequency, crest, trough, amplitude, and wave speed.
- Recall and apply the formula for wave speed, represented as v = f λ.
- Recognize that in a transverse wave, the vibration direction is perpendicular to the wave's direction of travel, and know that electromagnetic radiation, water waves, and seismic S-waves can be modeled as transverse waves.
- Understand that in a longitudinal wave, the vibration direction is parallel to the wave's direction of travel, and know that sound waves and seismic P-waves can be modeled as longitudinal waves.
- Explain how waves can experience reflection at a flat surface, refraction due to a change in speed, and diffraction when passing through a narrow opening.
- Demonstrate the use of a ripple tank to illustrate reflection at a flat surface, refraction caused by a change in depth, and diffraction through a gap and at an edge.
- Explain how the wavelength and the size of a gap influence the diffraction of waves as they pass through the gap.
- Describe how the wavelength of a wave affects its diffraction when encountering an edge.
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