Physics

The World Communicates

New Revised Edition

Brian Shadwick

Contents
Use the table of contents to record your progress through this book. As you complete each topic, write the date
completed, then tick one of the three remaining columns to guide your revision for later. The column headers use the
following codes:
?? = Dont understand this very well at all.
Topic

Page

Date
done

RR = Need to revise this.

??

RR

OK

OK = Know this.

Topic

Page

Introduction

18 Refraction 1

31

Verbs To Watch

19 Refraction 2

34

1 Types of Waves

20 Refraction Problems

36

2 Properties of Waves

21 Analysing a Refraction
Experiment

38

3 The Wave Equation

22 Analysing another
Refraction Experiment

39

4 Analysing Wave Diagrams

23 Total Internal Reflection

40

5 Analysing Wave Graphs

24 Optical Fibres

42

6 More about Sound Waves

25 Digital Communications

44

7 Superposition of Waves

11

26 Energy Changes in
Communications

45

8 More Superposition
Problems

18

27 CDs and DVDs

49

9 The Electromagnetic
Spectrum

19

28 Internet Communications

50

10 The special case of radio

waves

21

29 Global Positioning Systems

51

11 Detecting the Bands

22

53

12 The Inverse Square Law 1

23

Answers

58

13 The Inverse Square Law 2

24

Periodic Table of the

Elements

72

14 Communicating with Waves

25

Data Sheet

73

15 The Law of Reflection

27

Formula Sheet

74

16 Reflection in a Plane Mirror

28

17 Reflection from Curved

Surfaces

29

Science Press 2010

First published 2002
Revised Edition 2010
Science Press
Bag 7023 Marrickville NSW 1475 Australia
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Topic Test

Date
done

??

RR

OK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication

may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, without the prior permission of
Science Press. ABN 98 000 073 861

Introduction

contrast

Show how things are different or

opposite.
critically (analyse/evaluate) Add a degree of
level of accuracy, depth, knowledge
and understanding, logic, questioning,
reflection and quality to an analysis or
evaluation.
deduce
Draw conclusions.
define State the meaning of and identify essential
qualities.
demonstrate Show by example.
describe
Provide characteristics and features.
discuss
Identify issues and provide points for and
against.
distinguish Recognise or note/indicate as being
distinct or different from, note difference
between things.
evaluate
Make a judgement based on criteria.
examine
Inquire into.
explain
Relate cause and effect, make the
relationship between things evident,
provide why and/or how.
extract
Choose relevant and/or appropriate
details.
extrapolate Infer from what is known.
identify
Recognise and name.
interpret
Draw meaning from.
investigate Plan, inquire into and draw conclusions
about.
justify
Support an argument or conclusion.
outline
Sketch in general terms; indicate the main
features.
predict
Suggest what may happen based on
available information.
propose
Put forward a point of view, idea, argument
or suggestion for consideration or action.
recall
Present remembered ideas, facts or
experiences.
recommend Provide reasons in favour.
recount
Retell a series of events.
summarise Express concisely the relevant details.
synthesise
Putting together various elements to make
a whole.

Each book in the Surfing series contains a summary, with

occasional more detailed sections, of all the mandatory
sections of the syllabus, along with questions and
answers.
It is envisaged this book will be useful in class for
both initial understanding and revision, while the more
traditional textbook can remain at home for more detailed
analysis.
All types of questions multiple choice, short response,
structured response and free response are provided.
Questions are written in exam style and use the verbs
specified by the Board of Studies so that you will become
familiar with the concepts of the topic and answering
questions in the required way.
Answers to all questions are included.
A topic test at the end of the book contains an extensive set
of summary questions, including multiple choice and free
response questions. These cover every aspect of the topic,
and are useful for revision and exam practice. Marking
guidelines are supplied where appropriate.

Verbs To Watch
account,
State reasons for, report on, give an
account for account of, narrate a series of events or
transactions.
analyse
Identify components and the relationships
among them, draw out and relate
implications.
apply
Use, utilise, employ in a particular
situation.
appreciate Make a judgement about the value of
something.
assess
Make a judgement of value, quality,
outcomes, results or size.
calculate
Determine from given facts, figures or
information.
clarify
Make clear or plain.
classify
Arrange into classes, groups or
categories.
compare
Show how things are similar or different.
construct
Make, build, put together items or
arguments.

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Surfing Physics

The World Communicates

Types of Waves

Waves transfer energy from one place to another. Well known waves are water waves ripples in a pond or huge
bomboras at the beach. We are also familiar with sound waves, earthquake waves and waves in skipping ropes. Waves
also produce the sounds from every musical instrument and for all our radio, TV and microwave communications.

Classifying waves
Waves are classified as matter waves or as electromagnetic waves. Matter waves are further classified as transverse
and longitudinal waves.
Matter waves
Matter waves need a medium in which to travel. Matter waves transfer energy through the movement and collisions of
the particles of the matter through which they are travelling. Matter waves are also known as mechanical waves. They
include water, sound and earthquake waves and waves in ropes and springs.
Matter waves are also classified on the movement of the particles of the medium as energy passes through it. In transverse
waves the particles oscillate at right angles to the direction of energy transfer, while in longitudinal waves particle
motion is back and forth in the same direction as that of energy transfer.
We represent transverse waves using a sine/cosine curve (Figure 1.1), and longitudinal waves by a complicated series of
dots which represent the particles of the matter (Figure 1.2). Longitudinal waves can be very difficult to draw. Both types
of waves are also represented by wavefront diagrams (Figure 1.3).

Direction of particle oscillation

Direction of energy transfer

Figure 1.1 Transverse wave. Particles oscillate at 90 to direction of energy transfer.

Rest position of the particles of the medium

Positions of particles with energy passing through the medium
These particles have moved these ways

motion of particles

energy transfer

Figure 1.2 Longitudinal wave. Particles oscillate in the same direction as energy transfer.

Wavefront
Crests of pulses behind the front of the wave
Direction of energy transfer
Figure 1.3 Wavefront representation of waves (a type of overhead or plan view).

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Electromagnetic waves do not require matter. They

transfer energy using self induced electric and magnetic
fields at right angles to each other (Figure 1.4). They travel
at the speed of light (3 108 ms-1) through the vacuum of
space but slower through denser matter. Electromagnetic
waves include light, infra-red, X-rays, gamma rays,
ultraviolet rays, radio, TV and microwaves. In diagrams
we represent them using sine/cosine curves.

Because of this, they are more useful for communicating

long distances than matter waves.

Because they do not lose energy in inelastic collisions

between matter particles, and through friction due to
particle movement, electromagnetic waves carry energy
much longer distances than matter waves.
Figure 1.4 Diagrammatic representation of
electromagnetic waves.

Waves transmit energy in 1, 2 or 3 dimensions

A longitudinal wave in a spring transmits energy along the spring one dimension. Ripples in a pond caused when a
stone is dropped into the water transmit energy outwards in two dimensional circles. Your voice produces sound waves
that travel away from you in all directions in three dimensions.

For You To Do

4.

Identify whether the following waves travel in 1, 2

or 3 dimensions.
(a) Sound from a rifle shot.
(b) Broadcast waves from the TV station.
(c) TV waves picked up by your aerial and
travelling through the cable to your TV set.
(d) Light from the Sun.
(e) Water waves in the ocean travelling towards
the shore.
(f) Waves formed by dropping a stone into still
water.
(g) Light from a laser pointer.
(h) Waves in a guitar string.
(i) Sound waves inside a trumpet.

1. Outline how each observation shows that waves

carry energy.
(a) Too much time in the sun can cause sunburn.
(b) Loud sounds from bass loudspeakers can
cause curtains to move and windows to rattle.
(c) Solar hot water systems heat water.
(d) Waves at the beach can knock you over.
(e) Some public telephones are powered by
photovoltaic cells.
(f) Tsunamis can cause enormous damage to
coastal settlements.
(g) A guitar string produces a sound when
plucked.
2.

(a) In movies, loud explosions occur as planets

blow up or spacecraft are destroyed. Explain,
using the ideas you know about waves, which
aspects of these explosions are possible and
which are not.
(b) If aspects of these explosions are not possible,
why do movie producers use them?

5.

Identify the medium needed for

(a) radio waves
(b) earthquake waves
(c) sound waves
(d) light waves
(e) water waves

3.

Compare transverse and longitudinal matter waves.

6.

Explain why electromagnetic waves are more

useful than matter waves for long distance
communications.

7.

A short time after a huge explosion, the noise stops.

Propose what has happened to the sound energy
associated with the explosion.

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Properties of Waves

For You To Do
1. All waves have one property in common they all transfer energy from one place to another. Their other
properties are jumbled up, in the table. Your task is to unjumble them to find the correct definitions. Each
definition requires a phrase from each column.
Wave property

Phrase 1

Phrase 2

1: A wave

(a) sound wave determines the pitch

(highness

(A) from its rest or zero displacement

position.

2: A wave pulse

(b) is a single energy-carrying

disturbance

(B) identical point on the next wave

pulse.

3: Crests

(c) time it takes for one complete

pulse to

(C) energy from one place to another.

4: Troughs are

(d) of a wave is the distance from a

point on a wave pulse to the

(D) this determines the loudness or

softness of the sound.

5: The wavelength

(e) lower than normal density

(E) pass a fixed point.

6: The frequency of

(f) the lowest points on transverse

waves. They

(F) of waves that pass a fixed

position each second.

7: The frequency of a

(g) is the distance from the zero

displacement position of the

(G) waves. They are positions of

maximum particle displacement.

8: The period of a wave is the

(h) are the highest points on

transverse

(H) of the medium carrying a

longitudinal wave.

9: Wave velocity is a

(i) of higher than normal density of

(I) or lowness) of the sound produced.

10: The amplitude of a wave

(j) carrying a wave is a measure of

how far a particle is

(J) particles to the top of a crest or

the bottom of a trough.

11: The amplitude of a wave

determines

(k) is a series of pulses which

transfer

(K) the medium carrying a

longitudinal wave.

12: A compression is a region

(l) how much energy the wave is

carrying. For a sound wave

(L) its position when the medium is

not transferring energy.

13: A rarefaction is a region of

(m) position of a particle in a medium

is

(M) also represent positions of

maximum particle displacement.

14: The displacement of a particle in

a medium

(n) measure of how fast the wave

transfers energy

(N) in a medium or cycle of an

electromagnetic wave.

15: The zero displacement

(o) a wave motion is equal to the

number

(O) from one place to another.

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2.

Using the definitions you have from question 1, identify each of the labelled parts of each wave shown in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1 Identify each labelled part of each wave.

3.

Because they are difficult to draw, we represent longitudinal waves as sine/cosine curves. A compression is
represented by a crest in the sine/cosine curve and a rarefaction by a trough. Use this information to draw the sine/
cosine curve to represent the longitudinal wave shown in Figure 2.2 on the axes provided. Label the axes.

Energy transfer

Figure 2.2

4.

(a) The waves shown below all represent the same interval of time. List them in order of increasing wavelength,
amplitude, and then in order of increasing frequency.
(b) Measure the wavelength and amplitude of each wave.

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