Representing longitudinal waves
I can interpret and sketch graphs of longitudinal waves.
Representing longitudinal waves
I can interpret and sketch graphs of longitudinal waves.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In a longitudinal wave, the oscillations / vibrations are in the same direction in which the wave travels.
- Displacement is the distance one part of a wave is moved away from its rest position.
- In a longitudinal wave, forwards displacement is positive and backwards displacement is negative.
- Wavelength of a longitudinal wave is the distance between one compression (or rarefaction) and the next.
Keywords
Longitudinal wave - each part of a longitudinal wave oscillates forward and backward in the same direction in which the wave moves.
Compression - part of a longitudinal wave in which parts of the wave are squashed closer together is called a compression.
Rarefaction - part of a longitudinal wave in which parts of the wave are spaced further apart is called a rarefaction.
Wavelength - the wavelength of a longitudinal wave is the distance along the wave between one compression and the next.
Amplitude - the amplitude of a longitudinal wave is the maximum distance each part of the wave moves forward or backward.
Common misconception
Particles in a longitudinal wave move forward and backward between one compression and the next.
Demonstrate the movement of a candle flame in front of a loudspeaker set to a very low frequency with a wavelength of about 30 m (at 10 Hz).
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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