Boundary Conditions Stationary waves can form on strings or in pipes In both cases, progressive waves travel in a medium (i.e. the string or air) and superimpose with their reflections The number o...
Nodes & Antinodes A standing wave is made up nodes and antinodes Nodes are locations of zero amplitude and they are separated by half a wavelength (λ/2) Antinodes are locations of maximum ampli...
The Nature of Standing Waves Standing waves are produced by the amplitude travelling in opposite directions This is usually achieved when a travelling wave superimposes its reflection The superposi...
Double-Slit Equation Interference Patterns Interference patterns depend on: The coherent light incident on the slits The distance between the slits and the screen where the interference pattern is ...
Double-Slit Interference Interference occurs whenever two or more waves combine to produce a resultant wave with a new resultant displacement The waves combine according to the principle of superpo...
Single-Slit Diffraction Diffraction is the spreading out of waves when they pass an obstruction This obstruction is typically a narrow slit known as an aperture As waves pass through the aperture, ...
Determining Refractive Index Aim of the Experiment To investigate the refraction of light by a perspex block Equipment Ray Box - to provide a narrow beam of light to refract through the perspex box...
Refraction When light crosses the boundary between two media with different optical densities, it refracts At the boundary, the light undergoes a change in direction The change in direction depends...
Reflection When light hits a smooth plane surface, most of it gets reflected Very smooth reflective surfaces (e.g. mirrors) are known as specular plane reflectors For these surfaces, the law of ref...
