Physics 1 Advanced
Waves: Sound, SEISMIC and Light Unit Guide (Chapters 11-12, 13.1, 20.4)
Key Terms
Wave
Transverse Wave vs.
Longitudinal Wave
Restoring force and
Hooke’s Law
Mechanical Wave
Electromagnetic Wave
Seismic Waves
Focus vs. epicenter
S-wave and P-wave
Plate Tectonics and
convection of the mantle
Simple Harmonic Motion
and simple pendulum
Rest or equilibrium position
Period (seconds)
Wavelength (meters)
Wave speed equation
Crest vs. trough
Amplitude (meters)
Frequency (Hertz)
Standing Wave (node vs.
antinode)
Constructive vs. Destructive Doppler Effect
Interference
Sound Waves
Light Waves
(Electromagnetic Waves)
Media and speed of sound
Dual nature of light (waves
vs. photons
Pitch (Hertz) vs. Loudness
Media and speed of light
(decibels)
Natural frequency, forced
Electromagnetic spectrum
vibration, resonance, and
(seven groups), temperature
beats
and frequency and photon
energy, polarization
Learning Targets (Can you…
Chapter 11
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Explain Hooke’s law and restoring force?
Explain a simple pendulum, how period is influenced by string length and how to
determine the restoring force.
Explain simple harmonic motion and its relationship to waves?
Explain what causes a wave?
Draw a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave and label all parts and explain how
each differs in terms of vibrations and wave transmission.
State the units for frequency, wavelength, amplitude and period?
Explain the relationships between frequency and intensity, frequency and period, and
frequency and wavelength?
Explain the relationship between amplitude and energy?
Explain what a wave carries?
Explain what influences wave speed and solve wave speed and frequency problems?
Compare and contrast mechanical and electromagnetic waves (think wave speed,
formation, different mediums)?
Contrast reflection and interference of waves?
13.
14.
15.
16.
Describe fixed-boundary vs. free-boundary reflection of wave?
Explain wave interference and how can it be constructive or destructive?
Explain a standing wave (nodes and antinodes) and what it its importance to music?
Explain how harmonics are related to standing waves?
Chapter 12 (Sound)
Can you…
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
Explain how sound waves are produced?
Explain the type and form of a sound wave?
Explain pitch and its relationship to frequency?
Explain the Doppler Effect and its cause for sound and light?
Explain loudness, Decibels and the relationship to intensity?
State the normal frequency range for human hearing?
Explain how the human ear works?
Explain forced vibration, natural frequency and resonance?
Seismic Waves
Can you…
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
Compare and contrast the two types of body seismic waves that travel through the
Earth?
Explain what causes earthquakes and its relationship to plate tectonics?
Explain why three seismic stations are needed to find the epicenter of an earthquake?
Explain what seismic evidence supports the idea that the inner core is solid and the
outer core is liquid?
Explain the sources of internal heat in the Earth?
Explain what occurs in the mantle to cause the plates to move?
Explain the three plate boundaries and what is the difference between convergence
and divergence?
Explain the difference between an epicenter and focus of an earthquake?
In general, where do most of the major earthquakes on Earth occur?
Chapter 13.1, 20.4 (Light, Electromagnetic Waves and the Electromagnetic Spectrum)
Can you…
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
Explain how electromagnetic waves are produced and how temperature influences the
frequency and wavelength of light?
List the seven groups of light on the electromagnetic spectrum?
Explain how media influences the speed of light?
Explain the dual nature of light?
Explain how the inverse-square law applies to light?
Explain the photo-electric effect associated with solar panels?
Learning Targets (Can you…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Explain Hooke’s law and restoring force?
Explain a simple pendulum, how period is influenced by string length and how to
determine the restoring force.
Explain what causes a wave?
Explain what a wave carries?
Compare and contrast mechanical and electromagnetic waves (think wave speed,
formation, different mediums)?
Draw a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave and label all parts and explain
how each differs in terms of vibrations and wave transmission.
State the units for frequency, wavelength, amplitude and period?
Explain the differences and relationships between frequency and intensity,
frequency and period, and frequency and wavelength.
Explain the relationship between amplitude and energy.
Solve wave speed and frequency problems?
Explain pitch and its relationship to loudness?
State the normal frequency range for human hearing?
Explain how the human ear works?
Explain the type and form of a sound wave?
Explain forced vibration, natural frequency and resonance?
Explain wave interference and how can it be constructive or destructive?
Explain a standing wave (nodes and antinodes) and what it its importance to
music?
Explain how harmonics are related to standing waves?
Explain the Doppler Effect and its cause for sound and light?
Describe fixed-boundary vs. free-boundary reflection of wave?
Problems
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Hooke’s Law
Simple Harmonic Motion of simple pendulum and mass-spring system
Wave Speed
Intensity of sound waves
Harmonics