Physics HL

Sub-topic 4.1 – Oscillations

• Conditions for simple harmonic motion (SHM)
• SHM graphs (displacement-time, velocity-time, acceleration-time, acceleration-displacement, energy-time, energy-displacement)
• The meaning and significance of $a propto -x$

Sub-topic 4.2 – Travelling waves

• Wavelength, period, amplitude, frequency
• Wave speed equation (see Data Booklet)
• Transverse and longitudinal waves
• Wave graphs (displacement-distance, displacement-time)
• Electromagnetic and sound waves

Sub-topic 4.3 – Wave characteristics

• Wavefronts and rays
• Superposition of waves
• The relationship between intensity and amplitude (see Data Booklet)
• Intensity-distance inverse square law (see Data Booklet)
• Polarization
• Malus’s law (see Data Booklet)

Sub-topic 4.4 – Wave behaviour

• Reflection and refraction
• Snell’s law + related equation (see Data Booklet), critical angle
• Diffraction through apertures and around objects
• Double-slit interference + related equation (see Data Booklet)
• Interference and path difference 

Sub-topic 4.5 – Standing waves

• Standing wave patterns on strings (boundary conditions: two fixed ends, one fixed and one free end, two free ends)
• Standing (sound) wave patterns in pipes (boundary conditions: two closed ends, one closed and one open end, two open ends), harmonics
• Frequency of harmonics, length of the standing wave, wave speed
• Nodes and antinodes