- Wave
- A disturbance that transfers energy from one point to another without transferring matter.
- Transverse wave
- A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate at right angles to the direction the wave travels, such as water waves and light.
- Longitudinal wave
- A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction the wave travels, such as sound waves.
- Amplitude
- The maximum displacement of a vibrating particle from its equilibrium position.
- Wavelength
- The distance between two successive points in phase on a wave, such as two neighbouring crests; measured in metres (m).
- Frequency
- The number of complete oscillations or waves produced in one second; measured in hertz (Hz).
- Period
- The time taken to complete one full oscillation or one complete wave; measured in seconds (s).
- Wave speed
- The distance travelled by a wave in one second, equal to frequency multiplied by wavelength (v = fλ).
- Reflection of waves
- The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier, with the angle of reflection equal to the angle of incidence.
- Refraction of waves
- The change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another because of a change in its speed.
- Diffraction
- The spreading of waves as they pass through a gap or around the edge of an obstacle.
- Interference
- The superposition of two waves of the same type, producing regions of reinforcement (constructive) and cancellation (destructive).
- Resonance
- The large-amplitude vibration that occurs when a system is driven at its own natural frequency.
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- The full range of electromagnetic waves arranged by frequency or wavelength, from radio waves to gamma rays, all travelling at the speed of light in a vacuum.
What "Waves" terms cover
This group collects the 14 SPM Physics terms in Waves. Getting these definitions exactly right is some of the cheapest marks in Paper 2, a "define" or "state" question wants one precise sentence with the correct unit.
The key terms to get right
- Wave, A disturbance that transfers energy from one point to another without transferring matter.
- Transverse wave, A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate at right angles to the direction the wave travels, such as water waves and light.
- Longitudinal wave, A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction the wave travels, such as sound waves.
- Amplitude, The maximum displacement of a vibrating particle from its equilibrium position.
- Wavelength, The distance between two successive points in phase on a wave, such as two neighbouring crests; measured in metres (m).
- Frequency, The number of complete oscillations or waves produced in one second; measured in hertz (Hz).
- Period, The time taken to complete one full oscillation or one complete wave; measured in seconds (s).
- Wave speed, The distance travelled by a wave in one second, equal to frequency multiplied by wavelength (v = fλ).
- Reflection of waves, The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier, with the angle of reflection equal to the angle of incidence.
- Refraction of waves, The change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another because of a change in its speed.
- Diffraction, The spreading of waves as they pass through a gap or around the edge of an obstacle.
- Interference, The superposition of two waves of the same type, producing regions of reinforcement (constructive) and cancellation (destructive).
How this vocabulary is examined
These terms appear as define/state items in Paper 1 and Paper 2, and inside explain and calculate questions where using the wrong word costs marks. Learn each term with its unit and one example of correct use.
Source: DSKP KSSM Physics Form 4 and 5 (Versi English) (Bahagian Pembangunan Kurikulum (BPK), KPM)