General properties of waves

About this lab: General properties of waves

Interactive simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 3.1 General properties of waves: a wave on a rope with adjustable amplitude, wavelength and frequency labelled with crest, trough and wavelength and shown again as wavefronts from above, a ripple tank for the wave equation v = fλ with a frequency-wavelength graph, a transverse and a longitudinal slinky side by side with compressions and rarefactions marked, reflection at a barrier, refraction into shallow water with the angle of refraction, and diffraction through a gap whose width is set in wavelengths, plus a single edge and everyday examples of sound, light and radio.

IGCSE Physics 0625, topic 3.1. Wave features, the wave equation, transverse and longitudinal waves, and reflection, refraction and diffraction in a ripple tank.

General properties of waves is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 (topic 3 Waves, section 3.1 General properties of waves). The course is assessed in Papers 1 and 2 (multiple choice), 3 and 4 (theory), 5 (practical test) and 6 (alternative to practical). There are 5 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

• 3.1 Know that waves transfer energy without transferring matter
• 3.1 Describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibrations in ropes and springs, and by experiments using water waves
• 3.1 Describe the features of a wave in terms of wavefront, wavelength, frequency, crest (peak), trough, amplitude and wave speed
• 3.1 Recall and use the equation for wave speed v = f λ
• 3.1 Know that for a transverse wave, the direction of vibration is at right angles to the direction of propagation and understand that electromagnetic radiation, water waves and seismic S-waves (secondary) can be modelled as transverse
• 3.1 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
• 3.1 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
• 3.1 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
• Lessons on this topic: Wave features: wavelength, frequency, amplitude, crest, Wave equation: v = fλ, Transverse vs longitudinal waves, Reflection, refraction, and diffraction (ripple tank), Diffraction: how wavelength and gap size affect spread.

Full syllabus map: IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 3.

How to use this simulation

1. 1. Wave features.
2. 2. Wave equation.
3. 3. Transverse and longitudinal.
4. 4. Reflection, refraction, diffraction.
5. 5. Diffraction in depth.
6. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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