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Year 10
AQA
Higher

Representing transverse waves

I can interpret and sketch displacement-time graphs of transverse waves.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA
Higher

Representing transverse waves

I can interpret and sketch displacement-time graphs of transverse waves.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A displacement-time graph of a wave is a representation of a wave.
  2. A displacement-time graph of a wave shows how the displacement at one point varies as the wave passes
  3. The distance between two wave crests on a displacement-time graph is equal to the period of the wave
  4. The period of a wave, T, is equal to the time of one complete oscillation
  5. Frequency is equal to 1 / period

Keywords

  • Wave medium - the wave medium is the material that a wave can move through.

  • Displacement - displacement at a point of a wave is the distance that the wave medium is from its rest position.

  • Period (of a wave) - period (of a wave), T, is the time for a complete wave to pass any point, which is the same as the time to make one complete wave.

  • Frequency - frequency is the number of waves produced each second. Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Common misconception

A displacement-time graph is a picture of a wave.

Interpret and sketch displacement-time graphs of waves that are compared to descriptions of each wave.

Practice interpreting displacement-time graphs before asking students to sketch them. Focus on reading the axes each time to identify what is represented on each one and the scale. Ask pupils to describe each wave from its graph.
Teacher tip

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).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
How does the ball move as the water wave moves forwards?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: up and down
forwards and backwards
forwards with the wave
Q2.
A water wave is an example of a wave.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: transverse, mechanical
Q3.
Is a wave on a rope a transverse wave?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: yes, it is a transverse wave
no, it is a longitudinal wave
no, it is a mechanical wave
Q4.
Where is the rest postion of water in this wave?
An image in a quiz
level with the top of the wave
Correct answer: level with the middle of the wave
level with the bottom of the wave
Q5.
What is the amplitude of a water wave?
An image in a quiz
the distance between one wave crest and the next
the distance between a crest of a wave and a trough
Correct answer: the distance between a crest of a wave and the rest postion
Q6.
What is the wavelength of a water wave?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: the distance between one wave crest and the next
the distance between a crest of a wave and a trough
the distance between a crest of a wave and the rest postion

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What type of graph is often used to represent a wave?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: displacement-time graph
distance-speed graph
temperature-time graph
time-velocity graph
Q2.
What is the period of a wave?
An image in a quiz
the distance between two wave crests
the maximum displacement of the wave from equilibrium
the speed at which the wave moves forwards
Correct answer: the time it takes for one complete oscillation
Q3.
What is the distance between two wave crests on a displacement-time graph equal to?
An image in a quiz
the amplitude of the wave
the frequency of the wave
Correct answer: the period of the wave
the wavelength of the wave
Q4.
Which statement is true about a displacement-time graph of a wave?
An image in a quiz
it is a picture of the wave
it represents the wavelength of the wave
Correct answer: it shows the displacement at one point as the wave passes
it shows the frequency of the wave
Q5.
Which equation represents the relationship between frequency and period?
frequency = period x wavelength
frequency = period / wavelength
Correct answer: frequency = 1 / period
frequency = amplitude / period
Q6.
Put these waves in order of frequency, starting with the highest frequency.
1 - four complete oscillations in 6 s
2 - one complete oscillation in 2 s
3 - six complete oscillations in 15 s
4 - three complete oscillations in 9 s