4.6.2.1 Waves

Spec reference: 4.6.2 (subtopic).

What you need to know

• Waves
• Transverse and Longitudinal Waves Properties of Waves
• The frequency of a wave is the number of waves which pass a given point
• every second.
• time period (s) = 1 ÷ frequency (Hz)
• t = 1 ÷ f
• The wave speed is how quickly the energy is transferred through a medium
• (how quickly the wave travels).

Self-assessment (checklist)

• I can describe what an electromagnetic wave is.

Key steps (method)

• Identify what the question is testing and use the correct equation/definition.
• Show substitutions and units clearly.

Common mistakes

• Unit conversions, rearranging errors, or quoting a law without applying it.