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PlayOwl

Science · Grade 11

Waves and Superposition

Learners model waves as travelling disturbances that carry energy, not matter, and describe them quantitatively with amplitude, wavelength, period, frequency and speed. They use v = fλ, apply the principle of superposition to predict constructive and destructive interference from path differences, and analyse standing waves on strings, including harmonics and a simulated string investigation.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 115 minutes
  • Waves and superposition check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, draw a graph, match pairs, type a number, sort into groups and true or false
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Describe transverse and longitudinal waves as energy transfer without net transport of matter, and read amplitude, wavelength and period from wave graphs.
  • Use v = fλ and T = 1/f, and explain that wave speed is set by the medium while frequency is set by the source.
  • Apply the principle of superposition to find resultant displacements and to predict constructive or destructive interference from path differences.
  • Explain standing waves on strings with nodes and antinodes, and calculate harmonic wavelengths and frequencies with λₙ = 2L/n and fₙ = nv/(2L).

Lessons

  1. Describing waves 7 steps4 practiceabout 26 min
  2. Speed, frequency and wavelength 6 steps4 practiceabout 26 min
  3. Superposition and interference 7 steps4 practiceabout 30 min
  4. Standing waves on strings 8 steps5 practiceabout 33 min
  5. Waves and superposition check 10 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 11th grade science

Guide for grown-ups