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IGCSE Waves Definitions and Concepts
IGCSE Waves Definitions and Concepts
IGCSE Waves Definitions and Concepts
WAVES
LONGITUDINAL WAVE: Wave where the oscillation is parallel to the
direction in which the energy travels.
WAVELENGTH (): The distance along the wave from one particle to
the next particle making an identical oscillation.
WAVESPEED: The speed with which the energy of the wave travels.
v=f
DIFFRACTION: The way waves can spread out after passing an object
or opening with a size similar to the wavelength of the wave.
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM: The range of electromagnetic
waves ordered by frequency and wavelength. Includes light, heat,
radio, gamma rays, microwaves, X-rays
SPEED OF LIGHT: 300 million metres per second. The fastest means
of communication.
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TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION: This happens inside a more optically
dense material where all of a wave reflects from a surface and none
is transmitted.
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