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Year 11 Physics

Module 3 | Waves and thermodynamics

Content 1: Wave properties

Lesson 1 | Practical investigation: mechanical waves

• conduct a practical investigation involving the creation of mechanical waves in a variety of situations in order to explain:
– the role of the medium in the propagation of mechanical waves
– the transfer of energy involved in the propagation of mechanical waves (ACSPH067, ACSPH070)

• conduct practical investigations to explain and analyse the differences between:
– transverse and longitudinal waves (ACSPH068)
– mechanical and electromagnetic waves (ACSPH070, ACSPH074)

• conduct an investigation to distinguish between progressive and standing waves (ACSPH072)

Lesson 2 | Wave fundamentals

• construct and/or interpret graphs of displacement as a function of time and as a function of position of transverse and longitudinal waves, and relate the features of those graphs to the following wave characteristics:
– velocity
– frequency
– period
– wavelength
– wave number
– displacement and amplitude (ACSPH069)

Lesson 3 | Wave characteristics

• solve problems and/or make predictions by modelling and applying the following relationships to a variety of situations:
– $v = f\Lambda$
– $f = \frac{1}{T}$
– $k = \frac{2\pi }{\Lambda }$