Describing waves - types of wave

2. Transverse waves

Required Resources

• Slides 4-10
• Student Worksheets 1-2

Delivery

• Episode 2 introduces students to common examples of transverse waves and their key attributes. Slide 5 features an illustration of a transverse wave, showing direction of wave travel, the nature of vibrations and how wavelength and amplitude are calculated. Project Slides 4-7, which explore features of transverse waves, stopping to highlight key points. The independent work that students will participate in next involves labelling a version of this diagram, so you may like to switch off the projector at this stage.
• Distribute Student Worksheets 1 and 2 and ask students to label the diagram of a transverse wave on Worksheet 1.
• Slides 8-10 cover frequency, wave speed, the wave speed equation and examples of transverse waves, to give students context. Project the slides, discussing with the class as necessary.
• Part 2 of Student Worksheet 1, asks students to apply their understanding of transverse waves and to consider how the drawing of the wave would alter if frequency or amplitude were to change.
• Student Worksheet 2 tests student understanding of the properties of transverse waves at this point and revises key examples.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Omit those questions in Student Worksheet 2 which relate to the wave equation. It is sufficient for lower ability students to understand that the speed of the wave is the product of both frequency and wavelength and to be able to identify these component parts.

Higher Ability:

Introduce higher ability students to the wave equation after they have labelled the diagram in Part 1 of Student Worksheet 1. Give applied examples of this for them to work through.