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New YorkPhysics

Waves, Sound and Light

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What happens when waves spread around obstacles or overlap, and what does this reveal about light?

Describe diffraction as the spreading of waves around obstacles and through openings, and explain interference as the superposition of waves, distinguishing constructive and destructive interference and standing waves.
A Regents Physics answer on diffraction and interference: the spreading of waves around obstacles and through gaps, the principle of superposition, constructive and destructive interference, standing waves with nodes and antinodes, and how interference shows light is a wave, with worked reasoning examples.
11 min answer →

How do waves bounce off surfaces and bend when they pass between media?

State the law of reflection, define the absolute index of refraction $n = c/v$ , and apply Snell's law $n_1\sin\theta_1 = n_2\sin\theta_2$ to refraction, including the bending of light between media.
A Regents Physics answer on reflection and refraction: the law of reflection, the absolute index of refraction, and Snell's law for the bending of light between media, using the Reference-Table equations, with worked examples.
12 min answer →

What kind of wave is sound, and why does the pitch of a passing siren change?

Describe sound as a longitudinal mechanical wave needing a medium, relate pitch and loudness to frequency and amplitude, and explain the Doppler effect as an apparent change in frequency due to relative motion of source and observer.
A Regents Physics answer on sound and the Doppler effect: sound as a longitudinal wave requiring a medium, the link of pitch to frequency and loudness to amplitude, and the Doppler effect explained by relative motion of source and observer, with worked reasoning examples.
11 min answer →

What unites radio waves, light and gamma rays, and how do they differ?

Describe the electromagnetic spectrum as a family of transverse waves travelling at the speed of light in a vacuum, ordered by frequency and wavelength, and apply $c = f\lambda$ to electromagnetic waves.
A Regents Physics answer on the electromagnetic spectrum: the family of transverse waves from radio to gamma rays, all travelling at the speed of light in a vacuum, ordered by frequency and wavelength, and how to apply the wave equation, with worked examples.
11 min answer →

What quantities describe a wave, and how are wave speed, frequency and wavelength related?

Define amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period, distinguish transverse and longitudinal waves, and apply the wave equation $v = f\lambda$ and the period-frequency relationship $T = 1/f$ .
A Regents Physics answer on wave properties and the wave equation: amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period, transverse versus longitudinal waves, and the Reference-Table equations linking wave speed, frequency and wavelength, with worked examples.
11 min answer →