Waving

B Block started with the properties of transverse waves today and followed with properties of longitudinal waves and general descriptors of waves such as period, frequency, wavelength and wave speed. Be able to label the physical parts of a waveform use data on the axes of the coordinate plane to measure amplitude, wavelength, period and frequency. Tomorrow, we add in wave interactions: how do waves interact with matter and other waves.

C Block began to walk through wave properties, starting with ways to classify waves (EM vs. mechanical; pulse vs. periodic vs. sine; transverse vs. longitudinal) and showed how the basic properties of waves such as amplitude, period and frequency apply to these wave types. Tomorrow, we'll add wave speed and energy associated with amplitude to the list before taking a look at wave behaviors such as interference and reflection.

E and F Blocks tidied up issues of wave properties and moved into the arena of wave interactions. As will all concepts in this chapter, we'll investigate these in far more detail in coming chapters about sound and light, but you should have a basic idea about wave interference (constructive and destructive), wave reflection and the formation/properties of standing waves. Standing waves were demonstrated on a very silly, yet very effective machine and it was clear to see why they were called "standing" waves - they look like they are standing still. Make sure you can identify nodes and antinodes and determine the number of each on a standing wave form. You should also know that one antinode is 1/2 of a wave and its length is 1/2 of the wavelength of the wave. Given a distance measurement and a standing wave, you should be able to determine the wavelength of the wave presented. Tomorrow, F Block will work on a lab that will highlight the mathematical characteristics of a sine wave created through the simple harmonic motion of an oscillating mass-spring system. E Block will move into review mode and conduct that lab on Thursday.