Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can explain that overlapping pulses pass through each other and leave unchanged. (Guide: “Superposition”; Practice Q1)
- I can define constructive and destructive interference in terms of the directions of the displacements. (Guide: “Superposition”, Figure 1)
- I can explain beats as two waves drifting in and out of phase. (Guide: “Beats”)
- I can describe how a standing wave forms and define a node and an antinode. (Guide: “Standing waves”)
- I can state whether each type of string end or pipe end is a node or an antinode. (Guide: boundary-conditions table; Practice Q6)
Calculation and skills
- I can find the net displacement of overlapping pulses by adding signed displacements. (Practice Q1)
- I can calculate a beat frequency and the time between loud moments. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q2)
- I can draw the first three standing-wave patterns for a string fixed at both ends and for a pipe closed at one end. (Guide: Figure 2)
- I can use λ = 2L/n or λ = 4L/n with v = fλ and v = √(F_T/μ) to find frequencies, wave speed or tension. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q5)
- I can linearise f = v/(4L), plot f against 1/L and find v from the gradient. (Practice Q7)
Reasoning
- I can explain why only odd harmonics exist when one end is a node and the other an antinode. (Guide: “Harmonics”; Practice Q3, Q6)
- I can decide from a list of resonant frequencies whether a pipe is open at both ends or closed at one end. (Guide: Worked example 3)
- I can use a change in beat frequency to decide whether a frequency is above or below a reference. (Guide: Worked example 1)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 14.7: Diffraction, or return to the course roadmap.