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Describing Wave Motion (AQA GCSE Physics: Combined Science)
Revision Note
Describing Wave Motion
- When describing wave motion, there are several terms which are important to know, including:
- Amplitude
- Wavelength
- Frequency
- Period
Amplitude
- Amplitude is defined as:
The distance from the undisturbed position to the peak or trough of a wave
- It is given the symbol A and is measured in metres (m)
- Amplitude is the maximum or minimum displacement from the undisturbed position
Wavelength
- Wavelength is defined as
The distance from one point on the wave to the same point on the next wave.
- In a transverse wave:
- The wavelength can be measured from one peak to the next peak
- In a longitudinal wave
- The wavelength can be measured from the centre of one compression to the centre of the next
- The wavelength is given the symbol λ (lambda) and is measured in metres (m)
- The distance along a wave is typically put on the x-axis of a wave diagram
Diagram showing the amplitude and wavelength of a wave
Frequency
- Frequency is defined as:
The number of waves passing a point in a second
- Frequency is given the symbol f and is measured in Hertz (Hz)
Time Period
- The time period of a wave is defined as:
The time taken for a single wave to pass a point
- This can also be stated as
The time taken for one full cycle of a wave
- The time period is given the symbol T and is measured in seconds (s)
- On a graph, this can be seen by the time taken for a complete wavelength, if the horizontal axis is time
Diagram showing the time period of a wave
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