Teaching Advanced Physics: Vibrations and Waves
From the Institute of Physics, these resources are split into topics and each topic is subdivided into a number of episodes. An episode represents a coherent section of teaching – perhaps one or two lessons. The topics covered are:
• Simple harmonic motion
• Progressive waves
• Electromagnetic waves
• Reflection and refraction
• Superposition
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Episode 300: Preparation for Simple Harmonic Motion Topic
This set of resources, from the Institute of Physics, looks at simple harmonic motion (SHM). The topic follows logically from linear motion and circular motion. Activities also give opportunities to revisit many aspects of physics. The learning episodes in this section include: Episode 301: Recognising SHM Episode 302: Getting…
Episode 301: Recognising Simple Harmonic Motion
Through demonstrations and discussions, this learning episode from the Institute of Physics helps students to understand the main features of simple harmonic motion. This is in preparation to moving to a more mathematical description. Activities include: • observing simple harmonic motion (SHM) • discussing the…
Episode 302: Simple Harmonic Motion Getting Mathematical
Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode assists students to use a mathematical approach to simple harmonic motion, starting from its physical basis and the forces involved. In the activities, students look at: • restoring forces in simple harmonic motion (SHM) • graphical representations of SHM…
3/5- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Demonstration
Episode 303: Mass-Spring Systems
In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students use experimental techniques and modelling to investigate simple harmonic motion (SHM). The activities include discussions, practical investigations and worked examples, including: • linking Hooke's law and SHM • investigating a loaded spring…
Episode 304: Simple Pendulum
In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students investigate the simple harmonic motion of a pendulum. This involves discussion and student investigations. The activities include: • measuring the restoring force • investigating the time period of a pendulum • using a computer model of a pendulum…
Episode 305: Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode enables students to appreciate that there is a continuous interchange between potential and kinetic energy during simple harmonic motion. Students are also shown the mathematical basis for calculating energy. The activities include: • demonstration to produce…
Episode 306: Damped Simple Harmonic Motion
From the Institute of Physics, this learning episode will help students to see how energy moves from an oscillating system and how this results in a decrease in amplitude that follows an exponential decay pattern. The activities include: • observing water oscillating in a u-tube • the motion of a damped spring • investigating…
Episode 307: Resonance
In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students see demonstrations and perform practical work to understand how simple harmonic oscillators show resonance when forced to vibrate at their natural frequency. The activities include: • discussing resonance • demonstrating Barton's pendulums • using…
Episode 308: Preparation for the Progressive Waves Topic
In these activities, from the Institute of Physics, students look at waves, speed, frequency, wavelength and wave graphs. They provide an opportunity to assess and build on prior knowledge. In this topic, there are three learning episodes: Episode 309: Generating waves Episode 310: Wave graphs Episode 311: Speed, frequency…
Episode 309: Generating Waves
From the Institute of Physics, this learning episode introduces the idea that vibrations can give rise to disturbances travelling outwards, i.e. to progressive waves. This illustrates some of the basic properties of waves. The activities include: • investigating transverse and longitudinal waves in a spring • demonstrating…
Episode 310: Wave Graphs
In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students interpret graphs of waves to understand concepts such as wavelength, frequency and phase. The activities in this episode include: • plotting displacement and drawing longitudinal waves • considering phase • understanding compression and rarefaction • looking…
Episode 311: Speed, Frequency and Wavelength
These activities, from the Institute of Physics, consider how speed, frequency and wavelength are linked by the wave equation v = fλ . This is achieved by measuring frequency using an oscilloscope and measuring the velocity of sound in free air. The activities include: • worked example to deduce and use the wave…
Episode 312: Preparation for Electromagnetic Waves Topic
This series of resources, produced by the Institute of Physics, develops the idea that there are several types of electromagnetic radiation, similar to light, all of which travel at the same speed in empty space. The topic is split into learning episodes which are self-contained activities that take one or two lessons. In…
Episode 313: Polarisation
This learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, help students to develop their idea of electromagnetic radiation and polarisation. The basic ideas are developed through demonstrations and experiments. The approach is non-mathematical. The activities include: • using polarising filters to observe polarisation effects…
Episode 314: Electromagnetic Radiation
In this learning episode from the Institute of Physics, through a demonstration and the production of a presentation, students extend their understanding of the nature of different types of electromagnetic radiation, and considers their shared nature. The activities look at: • using heat detector and fluorescent paper…
Episode 315: The Inverse Square Law
In this learning episode, produced by the Institute of Physics, students investigate how the intensity of radiation decreases with distance from the source. The activities include: • demonstration and discussion on how radiation spreads • worked example to illustrate thinking in proportions • experiment to…
Episode 316: Preparation for Reflection and Refraction Topic
These activities, from the Institute of Physics, give an overview of reflection and refraction. The emphasis is on an interpretation in terms of waves. Applications, particularly those involving total internal reflection, are considered. The series of learning episodes include: Episode 317: Reflection and refraction of waves…
Episode 317: Reflection and Refraction of Waves
This learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, contains activities in which students look at reflection, refraction and Snell's law. Through discussion, demonstration and practical experiments, students look at: • reflection and refraction with a ripple tank • the 'marching soldiers' model…
Episode 318: Total Internal Reflection
Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode helps students to observe total internal reflection (TIR) as a consequence of refraction. Students use a semi-circular block to observe TIR and see how a fibre optic can be used to transmit information. The activities include: • ray tracing using semicircular…
Episode 319: Preparation for Superposition of Waves Topic
This series of learning episodes, from the Institute of Physics, looks at how waves add together by superposition. It follows a 'conceptual approach' by looking at superposition itself, followed by interference fringes and then diffraction. The episodes in this topic are: Episode 320: Superposition Episode 321:…
Episode 320: Superposition
This learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, introduces the basic idea of superposition of waves, explaining what happens when two or more waves meet. The activities include: • recapping students’ knowledge and understanding of waves • demonstration of waves using a rope • discussion of waves…
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Resource by: Institute of Physics
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The collection is part of Institute of Physics
- Institute of Physics: Teaching Advanced Physics
- Teaching Advanced Physics: Vibrations and Waves
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