Transverse waves
I can label the parts of a rope or water wave that can be measured, and I can interpret and sketch scale drawings of transverse waves.
Transverse waves
I can label the parts of a rope or water wave that can be measured, and I can interpret and sketch scale drawings of transverse waves.
Link copied to clipboard
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Displacement at a point of a wave is the distance that the wave medium is from its rest position at that point.
- Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a wave (up or down, or side to side).
- A displacement-distance graph of a wave is not a picture of the wave.
- The distance between two wave crests on a displacement-distance graph is equal to one wavelength.
- A positive (or negative) displacement shows part of the wave above (or below) the equilibrium position.
Keywords
Crest - the crest of a wave is the top or peak of the wave.
Trough - the trough of a wave is the lowest point of the wave.
Wavelength - wavelength of a transverse wave is the distance between one wave crest (or trough) and the next.
Amplitude - the amplitude of a wave is the maximum distance that each part of the wave moves from its normal position as a wave passes.
Displacement - the displacement of a wave is the distance that each part of the wave moves from its rest position as a wave passes.
Common misconception
A displacement-distance graph is a picture of a wave, with 1:1 vertical and horizontal scaling.
Interpret and sketch graphs of waves that are compared to pictures of each wave.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
