Oscillations and Waves

 

Topic #	Old Topic	Old # Hrs	New Topic #	New Topic	New # Hrs
4	Waves	10	4	Oscillations and waves	10
			4.1	Kinematics of simple harmonic motion (SHM)	2
			4.1.1	Describe examples of oscillations.
			4.1.2	Define the terms displacement, amplitude, frequency, period and phase difference.
				The connection between frequency and period should be known.
			4.1.3	Define simple harmonic motion (SHM) and state the defining equation as α = -ω2x .
				Students are expected to understand the significance of the negative sign in the equation and to recall the connection between ω and T.
			4.1.4	Solve problems using the defining equation for SHM.
			4.1.5	Apply the equations v = v0 sin ω t , v = v0 cos ω t , x = x0 cos ω t and x = x0 sin ω t as solutions to the defining equation for SHM.
			4.1.6	Solve problems, both graphically and by calculation, for acceleration, velocity and displacement during SHM.
			4.2	Energy changes during simple harmonic motion (SHM)	1
			4.2.1	Describe the interchange between kinetic energy and potential energy during SHM.
			4.2.2	Apply the expressions EK=½mω2(x02-x2) for the kinetic energy of a particle undergoing SHM, ET=½mω2x02 for the total energy and Eρ =½mω2x2 for the potential energy
			4.2.3	Solve problems, both graphically and by calculation, involving energy changes during SHM.
			4.3	Forced oscillations and resonance	3
			4.3.1	State what is meant by damping. It is sufficient for students to know that damping involves a force that is always in the opposite direction to the direction of motion of the oscillating particle and that the force is a dissipative force.
			4.3.2	Describe examples of damped oscillations. Reference should be made to the degree of damping and the importance of critical damping. A detailed account of degrees of damping is not required.
			4.3.3	State what is meant by natural frequency of vibration and forced oscillations.
			4.3.4	Describe graphically the variation with forced frequency of the amplitude of vibration of an object close to its natural frequency of vibration. Students should be able to describe qualitatively factors that affect the frequency response and sharpness of the curve.
			4.3.6	Describe examples of resonance where the effect is useful and where it should be avoided. Examples may include quartz oscillators, microwave generators and vibrations in machinery.
			4.4	Wave characteristics	2
			4.4.9	State that all electromagnetic waves travel with the same speed in free space, and recall the orders of magnitdue of the wavelengths of the principal radiations in the electromagnetic spectrum.
4.1	Traveling waves	3
4.2	Wave properties	5	4.5	Wave properties	2
			4.5.6	State and apply the conditions for constructive and for destructive interference in terms of path difference and phase difference.
4.3	Standing waves	2