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Higher Physics - Unit 3: 3.1 - Waves
Higher Physics - Unit 3: 3.1 - Waves
Higher Physics - Unit 3: 3.1 - Waves
3.1 - Waves
Wave Theory
All waves transmit energy.
The energy of a wave depends on its amplitude.
a = amplitude
crest
= wavelength
a
a
trough
Frequency of a wave:
Period of a wave:
frequency
(Hz)
1
f=
T
period
(s)
Wave speed:
Wavelength:
speed
(ms-1)
wavelength
v = f
frequency
(Hz)
(m)
In Phase
Two waves are in phase when the same
part of both waves arrive at the same
point in space (peak/trough) at the same
time.
Out of Phase
Two waves are exactly out of phase
when opposite parts of both waves
arrive at the same point in space (peak
and trough) at the same time.
Coherence
Two waves are coherent if they are:
the same frequency ( same wavelength)
the same speed
in phase.
Wave Behaviour
All waves display characteristic behaviour.
Reflection
The law of reflection states:
mirror
i r
incident
ray
reflected
ray
normal
Refraction
Waves change speed and direction when passing from one medium to
another.
i
i
Diffraction
Waves bend round corners.
long wavelength
short wavelength
narrow gap
large gap
Interference
Interference occurs when two or more waves are superimposed.
The total effect is the sum of the waves.
Interference Patterns
To show that a form of energy travels as a wave, an interference
pattern must be shown.
Thomas Young did this in 1801 for light, proving that light is a
wave motion.
s1
s2
c
d
c
d
c
d
c
laser
double slit
maxima
minima
Path
Difference
central maxima
1st maxima
2nd maxima
3rd maxima
nth maxima
path difference = n
Central Maxima
s1
s2
s1
s2
path difference
s1
s2
path difference
Fringe
Path
Difference
1st minima
2nd minima
3rd minima
nth minima
(n - )
1
path difference = n -
2
*** DIFFERENT from SQA data book ***
s1
s2
path difference
s1
s2
path difference
Example 1
Find the wavelength of the signals
used in the following experiment,
where x represents the 3rd minima.
Minima
1
path difference = n
2
1
61 51 = 3
2
2
= 4 cm
10 = 2
51 cm
61 cm
Example 2
Find the wavelength of microwaves
used in the experiment shown.
75 cm
max
max
max
max
84 cm
Maxima
path difference = n
n = 3 (since central maxima is n = 0)
84 - 75 = 3
9 = 3
= 3 cm
Diffraction Grating
A diffraction grating is a slide with multiple slits equally spaced.
(typically 400-800 per mm).
For Maxima
to maxima
path difference = n
s1
d
sin =
path difference
d
sin =
n
d
s2
d
s3
path difference
n = d sin
Example 1
Calculate the wavelength of light passed through a diffraction grating,
when the first order maxima is produced at an angle of 21.
The grating has 600 lines per mm.
= 21
1 10 3
d=
600
= 1.67 10 6 m
n = d sin
(
)
= (1.67 10 ) sin 21
1 = 1.67 10 -6 sin 21
-6
n =1
= 5.97 10 7 m
=?
= 597 nm
Example 2
Light of wavelength 700 nm is shone through a diffraction grating that
has 1200 slits per millimetre.
Calculate the angle between the central and first order maxima.
= 700 nm
= 700 10 -9 m
3
1 10
d=
1200
= 8.33 10 7 m
n =1
=?
n = d sin
) (
= 57.1
Measuring Wavelength
Aim
To show the wavelength of light from a laser is 632.8 nm.
Diagram
laser
diffraction
grating
screen
Method
Measure distance from laser to screen using a
Measure distance between central and first order maxima.
using
.
Using trigonometry, calculate angle at which constructive
interference occurs.
d=
distance
no. of slits
Results
tan =
0.05m
opp
adj
0.05
1
= tan 1 (0.05 )
tan =
1m
= 2.8
= 2.8
d=
n =1
=?
n = d sin
Wavelength (nm)
red
700
green
550
blue
500
violet
400
TASK
Calculate the angle between the central and first order maxima for the
four colours of light passing through a diffraction grating with 700
lines per mm.
Red
Green
n = d sin
n = d sin
700 10 -9
sin =
1.43 10 6
sin = 0.49
550 10 -9
sin =
1.43 10 6
sin = 0.38
= sin-1 (0.49)
= 29.3
= sin-1 (0.38)
= 22.6
Blue
Violet
n = d sin
n = d sin
500 10 -9
sin =
1.43 10 6
sin = 0.35
400 10 -9
sin =
1.43 10 6
sin = 0.28
= sin-1 (0.35)
= 20.5
= sin-1 (0.28)
= 16.2
Conclusion
The longer the wavelength the
The shorter the wavelength the
greater
smaller
white light
source
Prism
When light is dispersed using a prism, the following is seen:
white light
source
prism