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The Nature of Waves

Wave graphs and wavefronts

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 3

Overview

Recall questions on what goes on the axes of a displacement–time and a displacement–position graph, which gives the period and which the wavelength, obtaining the frequency and speed, what a wavefront is, and why a ray is at right angles to it.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What quantities are plotted on a displacement–time graph for a wave?

Key term

What quantities are plotted on a displacement–position graph for a wave?

Key term

Which quantity is read directly from a displacement–time graph?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What quantities are plotted on a displacement–time graph for a wave?

    Model answer

    Displacement on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis, for one chosen particle.

  2. 2

    What quantities are plotted on a displacement–position graph for a wave?

    Model answer

    Displacement on the vertical axis and distance along the wave on the horizontal axis, at one chosen instant.

  3. 3

    Which quantity is read directly from a displacement–time graph?

    Model answer

    The period, as the time between successive points at the same stage of the cycle.

  4. 4

    Which quantity is read directly from a displacement–position graph?

    Model answer

    The wavelength, as the distance between successive points at the same stage of the cycle.

  5. 5

    Which quantity can be read from either graph?

    Model answer

    The amplitude, as the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.

  6. 6

    How is the frequency obtained from a displacement–time graph?

    Model answer

    The period is read off and the frequency is one divided by it.

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