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The Nature of Waves

Phase and antiphase

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 3

Overview

Recall questions on what in phase and in antiphase mean, the separations that produce each, the phase difference of a whole cycle in degrees and radians, converting a fraction of a wavelength into a phase difference, and identifying phase from a snapshot of the wave.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

What separation along a wave puts two points in phase?

Key term

What separation puts two points in antiphase?

Key term

State the phase difference of one complete cycle in degrees and in radians.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What does it mean to say two points on a wave are in phase?

    Model answer

    They are at the same stage of their oscillation at the same instant, moving in the same direction with the same displacement.

  2. 2

    What does it mean to say two points are in antiphase?

    Model answer

    They are exactly half a cycle apart, so one is at a crest while the other is at a trough.

  3. 3

    What separation along a wave puts two points in phase?

    Model answer

    A whole number of wavelengths.

  4. 4

    What separation puts two points in antiphase?

    Model answer

    An odd number of half wavelengths.

  5. 5

    State the phase difference of one complete cycle in degrees and in radians.

    Model answer

    360 degrees, which is 2π radians.

  6. 6

    State the phase difference between two points in antiphase.

    Model answer

    180 degrees, or π radians.

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