Have you ever watched a slinky move back and forth when one end is pushed and pulled? The coils move in the same direction as the wave travels. This simple demonstration shows the basic idea behind a longitudinal wave. A longitudinal wave is a type of mechanical wave in which the particles of the medium…
See exactly how a transverse wave moves with a labeled diagram, plus real examples (light, rope, seismic S-waves) and common exam questions answered.
Have you ever noticed how an ambulance siren sounds higher as it approaches you and suddenly becomes lower after it passes? The siren itself may be producing a steady sound, yet the pitch you hear changes as the source moves relative to you. This familiar phenomenon is called the Doppler Effect. The Doppler Effect occurs…
Wave superposition: when waves overlap, displacements add algebraically. In-phase constructive interference, anti-phase destructive. Standing waves and beats explained with worked examples.
Snell’s law n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂ explains refraction at boundaries. Refractive index, critical angle, total internal reflection, and fibre optics explained with worked examples.
Light from the Sun, radio signals, Wi-Fi, X-rays, and microwaves may seem completely different, but they all belong to the same family: electromagnetic waves. These waves can travel through empty space without needing air, water, or another material medium. Electromagnetic waves are waves made of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space. In…
The lens and mirror equation 1/f = 1/u + 1/v explained: sign conventions, magnification, real vs virtual images, and worked examples for lenses and curved mirrors.
Wave interference is one of the most important concepts in physics used to explain how two or more waves interact when they meet. Instead of simply passing through each other without changing, waves can combine to produce a new wave pattern. This phenomenon can make a wave stronger, weaker, or even cancel it out completely….
