3 · IGCSE Physics
Wave properties
Change the frequency and amplitude of a transverse wave in different media and see how wavelength, period and speed are linked by v = fλ. Watch one particle move up and down while the wave travels sideways.
v = f λ
T = 1 / f
y = A sin(2π(x/λ − t/T))
T = 1 / f
y = A sin(2π(x/λ − t/T))
- Speed v
- Frequency f
- Wavelength λ
- Period T
- Amplitude A
- Time t
- Particle y
- Particle velocity
Try this
- On the rope, set f = 1.0 Hz, then 2.0 Hz. How does λ change? Does the speed v change?
- Keep f fixed and move the amplitude slider. Which of λ, T and v change? What does the gold particle do differently?
- Switch to the ripple tank at f = 2.0 Hz and use 0.25× speed. Check that the red crest moves exactly one wavelength in one period.
Common error: thinking a higher frequency makes a wave travel faster — in one medium v stays the same, so raising f makes λ = v / f smaller.