CHAPTER 1 : Understanding Waves

Point Notes Add-in notes / Diagrams /

number Calculations and others
The nature of waves
1. Example of a wave motion is …………………. on
the water surface. Waves traveling along ………..
rope.
2. A …………. Wave is formed when a stone drops on Draw the circular waves.
a water surface .
3. A wave is generated by a ……………….. particle or
charge .
4. Waves can be described as a traveling……………
5. Energy is transferred ………………….the direction of
the waves.
6. Medium is a substance or material which carries the
………………………. The medium carries or
transports the wave from it ……………….. to another
location.
7. The particle of the medium …………….. but do not
…………… along the wave.
8. The wave transfer ………………along with it in the
direction of its……………without ………………….
matter.
9. There are two basic types of waves, Draw the transverse waves in a
…………………waves and …………………..waves. slinky spring.
10. A transverse wave is formed in which the Define a transverse waves.
…………… of the medium ……………… in the
direction…………………to the direction in which the
wave moves. Example of transverse waves are
………………and …………………………..
11. Small waves formed on the surface of a lake, pond
or tank are called ………………………
12. When a slinky spring is vibrated ………………… Draw the longitudinal waves in
direction along the length of the spring. A series of a slinky spring.
………………..regions and ……………regions are
produced. Particles are vibrating ……………… with
the direction of the propagation of the waves.

Define a longitudinal wave .

13. Example of a longitudinal wave is

……………………..wave.
14. Sound waves cannot propagate through a
……………… . Sound wave is a ………………wave.
15. A ……………. Is an imaginary line that joins all the
point on the crest of a wave. The direction of

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 propagation of a wave is ……………… to its wave
front.
Oscillating system
16. An example of an oscillating system is a Draw a simple pendulum.
simple………………
17. An oscillating system is a system that undergoes a
periodic …………and …………. Movement.
18. A simple pendulum oscillates about its …………… Show using a diagram.
position. One ……………….oscillation occurs when
the bob moved through position from one specific
position and comes back to that ………………….

19. The amplitude, a of an oscillation is

the……………….. displacement from the mean
position.
20. The period, T of an oscillation is the time taken for a 10 complete oscillation took
………………. Oscillation. 12.0 s. What is the period ?
21. The frequency, f of an oscillation is the number of The frequency of vibration is 50
complete oscillation made in one …………….. The SI Hz , What is its period.?
unit for frequency is ……………. ( Hz ).
Relationship between frequency and period, T is
f = ………………..
Graphical Representation of waves
22. The displacement-time graph of a pendulum shows
how ………………. varies with ………………
Label the graph with amplitude, period .

23. The Displacement –Distance graph shows

how…………….varies with distance. The
……………… is the horizontal distance between
…………….. equivalent points on the wave.
Label the amplitude and wavelength , λ.

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24. Speed is defined as distance divided by …………… A wave has a frequency of 10
For a wave, v = λ / T and since f = 1/ T , therefore Hz and its period is 0.5 s. What
v =…………………. is the speed?
25. Worked example 1 :
Calculate the wave speed if its wavelength and
frequency are 2.0 cm and 20 Hz respectively.
26. Worked example 2 :
A wave travels with a speed of 3.0 x 10 8 m s -1.
(a) what is the frequency if its wavelength is 2.0 m?
(b) what is the wavelength if the frequency is 1.5 M
Hz.?
27. Worked example 3 :
A wave has a period of 0.2 s and has wavelength of
2.0 cm. determine the speed of the wave.

Damping in an oscillating system

28. In an ideal oscillating system, the transformation of Draw the displacement-time
energy is between potential and ………………. graph for an ideal oscillating
energy . There is no ………….. to the surroundings. system.

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 -A O A

Energy

-A O A Displacement

29. In real life situation, the amplitude will Draw the displacement-time
…………….and eventually stops. This happens graph for a damped oscillation.
because of …………….. loss from the oscillating
system.

30. In damped oscillating system, energy is loss to

factors like ……………… resistance and ……………..
in the form of ……………… energy.
31. When a system loses energy , ……………… is said
to have occurred. The forces for damping are often
called ………………….. forces.
32. A system oscillates at its ………………. frequency
when no external force is applied. The natural

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 frequency of a simple pendulum depends on its
……………………
33. A damped oscillating system can be made to
oscillates and swing without stopping if a
…………….. force is given at the correct timing.
This is called a …………………oscillation.
34. If the frequency of the periodic force is ……………
to the natural frequency of the oscillating system,
maximum ………………transfer occurs. The
oscillating system is said to be at ………………….. at
resonance the oscillating system will oscillate with a
……………..amplitude.
35. Examples of resonance are :
 In electrical ……………. as in radio.
 Resonance in ………… instruments
 An opera singer at ………….. pitch note can
shatter a thin glass.
 Microwave ………………….
 The ……………. Of Tacoma bridge due to
blowing of winds.
Resonance can be ………………….. or bad.
36. Resonance can be shown using ………………… Draw Bartons’ pendulums and
pendulum . The pendulum with the length will give a brief explanation.
…………………. Alternatively because they have the
same natural…………………………

Analysing Reflection of Waves

37. A wave that hits an obstacle or …………. will be
reflected .
38. In reflection of wave , the angle of ………………… is Draw a diagram to illustrate.
equal to the angle of ……………………….. A
…………….. is a line drawn perpendicular to the
surface at the point of incidence.
39. In reflection,……………………… and the frequency
of the waves are the same.
40. Steps to draw diagram to show the reflection of plane
waves
 Draw a line to represent the ………….. …
Propagation, perpendicular to the wavefronts.

 Draw a ……………… perpendicular to the

reflector.
 Draw a line to represent the …………….. of the
reflected waves.( law of reflection )
 Draw the wavefronts of the reflected waves
which are ……………… with the line drawn.
Analysing Refraction of Waves.
41. Waves can be ……………………as they move from
one medium to another medium of different physical

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 conditions.
42. Refraction of waves means there is a change
of…………………. In the propagation of waves from
one medium to another. This happens because
there is a change of ………………….
43. When waves travel from deep area to ……………….
Area , the waves changes …………………, its speed
is ……………… in shallow area, it bends towards the
………………………. The wavelength is
…………………. as compared to the wavelength at
deep area.
44. In the ripple tank, a piece of ………………. Is placed
in the water to create a shallow area.
45. The frequency of the waves remains constant but
…………………and speed changes in refraction.
46. When waves travel from a denser medium ( deep ) to
a less dense medium (shallow ), they are refracted
…………………… the normal.
Deep area Shallow area

47. When waves travel from a less dense medium

( shallow ) to a denser medium ( deep ), they are
refracted ……………. from the normal.
48. Shoreline-shaped wavefronts : Draw a diagram to illustrate.
Waves in the open sea have almost
…………………….wavefronts. The waves gradually
bend until they almost take the …………….. of the
shore as they approach the shore. This is because
the waves are ………………..as the depth of the sea
becomes shallower. At the bay, the refracted waves
……………….. and spread its energy towards a
………………………… area. Therefore the energy of
the waves decreases. The water is …………… at the
bay.

At the headland, the refracted waves …………… to a

point , the energy of the waves are focused to a
……………….area, the …………….. of the waves
increases and the water is more turbulent at the
headland.

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49. The refraction of sound waves ; Draw a picture to illustrate.
On a warm day, sound waves are refracted
…………………… from the earth. This is due to that
on a hot day, the layer of air near the surface is
warmer and becomes ………………. dense. The
layers of air further away at higher levels are cooler
and more dense. Sound waves travel ……………….
in warm air than in ………….air. It is quite difficult to
hear sound on a hot day.
50. On a cold night, the sound waves are refracted Draw a picture to illustrate.
………………… the earth. The upper air is warmer
than the lower layers of air. So the sound waves are
refracted …………… the normal and moves towards
the earth. Sound can be heard over a longer
distance on a cold night.

Analysing Diffraction of waves

51. Diffraction is the ………………..out of waves when
they move through a ……………. or around
an…………………… The waves …………….. around
corners.
52. The narrower the gap, the more the waves Draw diagrams to illustrate.
……………………….. out. When the width of the
gap is approximately the of the ……………..of the
waves, the diffracted waves ……………….out more.
When the gap is wider than the wavelength, there is
little……………………….

Medium gap

Big gap

Small gap

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53. When waves are obstructed by an obstacle, a Draw a diagram to explain.
…………………………… is formed behind the
obstacle.
54. The frequency,………………..and speed of the
waves remain……………… after diffraction. The
……………….of propagation of the difracted waves
changes.
Diffraction of light waves.
55. When light rays pass through a big aperture or slit, Draw a diagram to explain.
there is negligible difraction.

56. When light rays pass through a …………slit, there is Draw a diagram to explain.
a diffraction pattern consisting of ………………
fringes and ………………………… fringes. This is
due to the …………………….. of light as it spreads
out at the corners of the slit. The width of the slit must
be approximately equals or ……………………. Than
the wavelength of light.
57. When light passes through the edges of a razor
blade, it produces a …………………. pattern
consisting of …………………. and ……………..
fringes.
Diffraction of sound waves
58. We could hear the sound from a radio placed at a Draw a diagram to explain.
corner because of ………………… of sound waves.
Longer wavelength sound waves are more easily
………………………. Than shorter wavelength
sound waves.

59. Low frequency sound waves are diffracted

………………………..than the high frequency sound
waves.
Analysing Interference of waves
60. Two …………………….waves overlap each other. Draw a wave , label crest and
When two wavefronts meet, …………………… trough.
occurs. The two waves either interfere
………………………or …………………….

61. Coherent sources of waves are sources which

maintain a constant …………………… difference.
62. Interference follows the principle
of………………………………………

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63. The principle of superposition states that when two
waves ………………., the
resultant…………………… is equal to the sum of the
displacements of the individual wave.
P Q

Draw 3 diagrams to
show what happen next.
(i) when they overlap
(ii) after they overlap
(iii) long after they
overlap.

64. Constructive interference: Draw diagrams to illustrate.

When two crests meet, and if the amplitude of each
individual wave is A, the resultant amplitude is
……………..

When two trough meets, if the amplitude of

individual wave is –A, the resultant amplitude is
………………
65. Destructive interference: Draw diagrams to illustrate.

When a crest overlap with a trough, a positive

……………..meets another with a ………………
amplitude of the same magnitude. They
………………..each other and the resultant amplitude
becomes……………………………..
Interference of water waves ( ripple )
66. Two sets of continuous coherent water waves
overlap to produce an …………………… pattern
67. At the points of constructive interference where
crests overlap with other ……………….. to produce
larger ………………….. and troughs overlap with
other ………… to produce ………………. The water
moves up and ……………………..with a
……………..amplitude.
68. At the points of destructive interference where crests
meets ……………………., the amplitude is
…………………… the water is actually……………….
69. The points of constructive interferences are known as
………………………..
70. The points of destructive interferences are known as
…………………………….

71. Interference pattern of water waves : In the interference pattern, label

the followings:

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 i. the crest lines
ii. draw the trough lines
iii. the antinodes
iv. the nodes
v. draw lines joining the
antinodes
vi. draw lines joining the
nodes
vii. a, distance between
X sources
A Y viii. x, distance between
two consecutive
Z
nodes ( antinodes)
ix. D, the perpendicular
B
Distance from the sources
and the position where the
value of x is measured.

Write the equation for

interference.

At point X , …............... meets …………………….

…………………….interference occurs.

At point Y, ……………..meets …………………….

……………………interference occurs.
At point Z, ………………meets …………………….
…………………….interference occurs.

Interference of light waves

72. Interference of light occurs when two sets of Interference fringes. Label the
……………….light waves overlap with each other. dark and bright fringes .

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 This can be shown using the Young’s indicate the value of x.
……………………. Experiment.

Label the diagram given and draw light rays from

light source reaching the screen showing
interrefence.

Worked example :
In a Young’s double-slit
experiment, a light of
wavelength 650 nm passes
through two slits which are 0.5
mm apart. The distance from
the double –slits to the screen is
5.0 m
(a) calculate the distance
between two adjacent bright
fringes.

(b) What will happen to the

distance between two adjacent
bright fringes if red light is
replaced by blue light ?

73. Two sets of coherent waves can be produced from a

………………………. using white light or
monochromatic light source.
74. The interference pattern consists of alternate
…………………and ………………… fringes.
75. The dark fringes and the bright fringes are of the
…………………….thickness.
Interference of sound waves.
76. Interference of sound waves can be shown using
two…………………………connected a audio
……………………..generator.
77. Two sets of …………………sound waves are
produced and overlap to produce alternate loud and
………………sounds .

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78. The loud sound corresponds to …………………..
interference.
79. The soft sound corresponds to …………………….
Interference.
80. Interference pattern of sound waves; What is observed if a student
Sketch the interference pattern and identify the points walks from point P to Q ?
of constructive and destructive interferences.
………………………………….

…………………………………….

Worked example :

Two loud speakers palced 1.5

m apart produces sound of
frequency 500 Hz. The
distance between 5 loud
sounds is 4.8 m detected at a
Q distance 4.0 from the speaker.
Calculate :
(a) wavelength of sound
waves,

P
(b) speed of sound.

81. In an aeroplane , the cabin noise can be reduced by

using the method of ………………………..
interference.
82. The bow of a ship is ……………………. In shape.
The spherical design generate waves that will
interfere …………………… to produce wave of small
amplitude,
Analysing sound waves
83. Sound waves are ……………………. waves
produced by …………………… of air molecules.
Sound wave is a ……………………wave and it
needs ………………….. for propagation.
84. Vibration of air molecules produces layers of air Why does sound travels faster
which experiences …………………… and in solid.?
rarefaction. The air ……………… also varies .

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 Region of compression produces………………….
Pressure. Region of ………………….. produces
…………………….. pressure.
What will happen to a candle
Label the diagram below. placed in front of a loud
speaker which is producing
sound?

Pressure

Time

85. Sound wave travels …………………in solid

compared to air.
Amplitude and frequency of sound waves
86. The loudness of a sound is directly proportional to
its………………….. of vibration.
87. Bigger amplitude will produce …………………. sound Draw diagram to illustrate.
and vice versa.
88. The pitch of a sound wave depends on the Draw diagram to illustrate.
…………………………… The higher the frequency
the …………….. the pitch and vice versa.
89. The frequencies of audible sound waves are from
………………… Hz to ………………….. kHz.

90. Sound of frequencies below 20 Hz are called

…………………… and our human ears cannot hear
the sound.
91. Sound of frequencies above 20 kHz are known as
………………………… and also cannot be heard by
the normal ear.
92. Application of sound waves :

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  Bats use …………………….sound waves for
navigation .
 Doctors use …………………. sanning to see
unborn baby.
 Ultrasonic ruler is used to measure the
…………….. of the sea.
 Sonar means ……………………. Navigation
ranging. It is a technique fro locating
…………………………… objects like submarine
, shoal of fish etc.
 Sonar is used for ……………….. exploration.

93. Sonar or Ultrasonic ruler is used to measure the

…………………. of the sea. In an expedition to determine
the depth of a sea using sonar.
( ultrasonic ruler ). The time, t
taken by the pulse to travel to
the bottom of the sea and return
to the ruler is 4.0 s. if the
speed of sound is 1500 ms -1.
Calculate the depth of the sea.

Transmitte Receiver
r

Ultrasonic d
pulse

Why altrasonic sound of high

frequency is used in sonar.

A pulse of ultrasonic sound is ………………….

towards the seabed from a ………………... The
pulse will be ……………. back to the ruler via the
receiver. The time taken by the pulse to ……………to
the seabed and back is recorded as ,t.

The depth, d = vt /2.

A Cathode ray tube ( CRO) is used to determine the

time taken as below. The time base is set at 2.0 ms
per division. What is the time taken , t ,as shown
below ?

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 Transmitted Reflected
pulse pulse

If the velocity of sound is 1500 ms -1, what is the

depth ?

Analysing electromagnetic waves

94. Waves arranged according to its wavelengths is
called a ………………………………………….
95. Electromagnetic waves has …………………….. and Draw a diagram to illustrate.
……………………………. components which
consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields
……………………. to each other.

The electromagnetic spectrum consists of

………………………waves according to their
wavelengths .

Label the electromagnetic spectrum below.

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 Gamma rays
Radio waves

White light has 7 components colours namely red,

……………….., yellow, ………………, blue,
……………………and violet.

Red light has the …………………. wavelength and

blue light has a ………………… wavelength.

96. The speed of all electromagnetic waves is the

……………………….. thai is the speed of light.
97. V = f λ, if a wave has large wavelength , then the
frequency will be …………………….. and vice versa.
98. Applications of electromagnetic waves: What type of waves is used for
 Radio waves has low frequency and …………. mobile phones
Energy. Used for . aircraft and ……………….. communications ?
shipping bands. A.M …………….,
……………………radio, TV and F.M
…………………….

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  Microwave is used in …………………. oven and
microwave ……………………. How does an microwave oven
 Infrared rays are used in night ………………. works ?
Binoculars and television ………………..
control.
 Visible light is used in ……………………, our
………………………. and photosynthesis.
 Ultraviolet rays is used in ultraviolet
………………… to detect false currencies
notes.
 X-rays for X-ray …………………………….
 Gamma rays have high ………………… and
high energy. It is used in
……………………………….
99. Ultraviolet rays can cause certain material to Why ozone layer in the
…………………. Some materials absorb ultraviolet atmosphere important ?
radiations and emit it as …………………….. light.
Ultraviolet light can cause
skin……………………………….
100. Gamma rays has the ……………………….
Wavelength. It is emitted by …………………….
Materials. Gamma rays can kill ………………. Cells.
It is used in ………………………. process in hospital.
Food can be sterilized by using gamma rays to
kill…………………………
101. Danger of ionizing radiation
Excessive exposure to high energy radiation such
as…………………………., X-rays and
…………………………….. may cause
………………………… of genes that can cause
genetic defects.
End of Module

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