IB›IB Physics HL›Mind mapsC.2 Wave modelIB Physics HL: Mind mapStudy pack PDFAlso for this subtopic:Revision notesFlashcardsSubtopic testCover factsWave typesWaves transfer energy, not matterTransverse: oscillation perpendicular to energy transferLongitudinal: oscillation parallel, compressions and rarefactionsSound and P-waves are longitudinalDescribing wavesWavelength: distance between adjacent points in phaseT=1fT = \frac{1}{f}T=f1v=fλ=λTv = f\lambda = \frac{\lambda}{T}v=fλ=TλMedium sets speed, source sets frequencyHigher f in same medium gives shorter λSoundLongitudinal mechanical waveCannot travel through a vacuumFaster in solids than gasesAbout 340 m/s in air, 1500 in waterHuman hearing: 20 Hz to 20 kHzWavesthe wave modelλ\lambdaλfTvEM wavesTransverse electric and magnetic field oscillationsNeed no mediumc=3.00×108 m/sc = 3.00\times10^8\,\text{m/s}c=3.00×108m/s in a vacuumRadio, microwave, IR, visible, UV, X-ray, gammaFrequency increases along that orderCompareMechanical waves need a medium, EM waves do notMechanical: transverse or longitudinal; EM: transverse onlyBoth reflect, refract and diffractExam tipsHigher frequency does not mean faster wavesGive both sides of each comparison