Waves
Wave motion
Particles ⊥ to travely = A sin(kx − ωt)v = fλ
Parameters
Amplitude1 m
Frequency0.5 Hz
Slow enough to follow by eye
Wavelength2 m
Calculated
Wave speed v1.00 m/s
Period T2.00 s
Angular freq ω3.142 rad/s
Wave number k3.142 rad/m
Curriculum
WAECNECOIGCSESATJUPEB
📋 Teacher notes
- •Watch the red particle: it only moves UP and DOWN while the wave pattern moves RIGHT — the wave transports energy, not matter.
- •v = fλ is the single most examined wave equation. The green bracket marks one wavelength.
- •Doubling frequency at fixed speed halves the wavelength — try it with the sliders.
- •Examples: water surface waves, waves on a string, ALL electromagnetic waves.
- •The particle completes one full oscillation in exactly one period T = 1/f.
✏️ Exercises