Physics SL
Physics SL
5
Chapters
329
Notes
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Theme D - Fields
Theme D - Fields
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
IB Resources
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Physics SL
Physics SL

Theme C - Wave Behaviour

Unlocking Wave Motion: Graphs Explained in Detail

Word Count Emoji
655 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Waves on a graph 🎢

Just like rollercoasters have their thrilling ups and downs, so do waves! And the best way to capture a wave's adventure? Graphs!

 

Displacement–Distance Graph: Think of this like a wave's selfie! 📸

  • Shows how the wave's height (displacement) changes as you move along it.
  • It's like taking a snapshot of the ocean's wave at one exact moment. Imagine you're on the beach and you see a wave rise and fall; that's this graph.

Displacement–Time Graph: This one's like a diary entry of a tiny point on the wave! 📔

  • Focuses on just one spot on the wave and tells its story over time.
  • Imagine a buoy floating on the ocean. Even if it stays in the same place, the water's wave will lift it up and down. This graph shows that buoy's journey.

⚠️ Heads Up: Always double-check the x and y axes of your graph. A tiny mistake can lead to confusing a wave's selfie with its diary!

Dissecting displacement 🔍

Let's play detective! The word "displacement" is often around, but it doesn't always mean what you think.

  • 🚫 It's NOT always about how much the wave itself has moved.
  • ✅ It CAN be about other things changing, like the strength of an electric or magnetic field for electromagnetic waves.

Real-world example: Imagine you're at a concert. The sound waves make the air particles vibrate, but those particles aren't traveling to your ears. Similarly, the "displacement" in waves doesn't always mean movement from point A to B.

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IB Resources
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Physics SL
Physics SL

Theme C - Wave Behaviour

Unlocking Wave Motion: Graphs Explained in Detail

Word Count Emoji
655 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Waves on a graph 🎢

Just like rollercoasters have their thrilling ups and downs, so do waves! And the best way to capture a wave's adventure? Graphs!

 

Displacement–Distance Graph: Think of this like a wave's selfie! 📸

  • Shows how the wave's height (displacement) changes as you move along it.
  • It's like taking a snapshot of the ocean's wave at one exact moment. Imagine you're on the beach and you see a wave rise and fall; that's this graph.

Displacement–Time Graph: This one's like a diary entry of a tiny point on the wave! 📔

  • Focuses on just one spot on the wave and tells its story over time.
  • Imagine a buoy floating on the ocean. Even if it stays in the same place, the water's wave will lift it up and down. This graph shows that buoy's journey.

⚠️ Heads Up: Always double-check the x and y axes of your graph. A tiny mistake can lead to confusing a wave's selfie with its diary!

Dissecting displacement 🔍

Let's play detective! The word "displacement" is often around, but it doesn't always mean what you think.

  • 🚫 It's NOT always about how much the wave itself has moved.
  • ✅ It CAN be about other things changing, like the strength of an electric or magnetic field for electromagnetic waves.

Real-world example: Imagine you're at a concert. The sound waves make the air particles vibrate, but those particles aren't traveling to your ears. Similarly, the "displacement" in waves doesn't always mean movement from point A to B.

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Physics SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟

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