Waves: Key Terms (Form 4 SPM Physics)

Terms and definitions

• 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.
• Physical quantity, A quantity that can be measured, consisting of a numerical value and a unit. (related term from another chapter)

Content standards these terms come from

• 5.1 Fundamentals of Waves
• 5.2 Damping and Resonance
• 5.3 Reflection of Waves
• 5.4 Refraction of Waves
• 5.5 Diffraction of Waves
• 5.6 Interference of Waves
• 5.7 Electromagnetic Waves

How to learn them

1. Cover the definition, say it aloud, then check the unit.
2. Pair each term with a formula or experiment from the chapter.
3. Write the Malay term alongside the English one, SPM papers are bilingual.

More Waves resources

• Chapter overview: Waves
• Revision Notes
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Questions
• Paper 2 Answering Guide
• Paper 3 Guide
• Calculation practice sets

Source: DSKP KSSM Physics Form 4 and 5 (Versi English), Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia: Format Pentaksiran mulai 2021, Fizik (4531) (Bahagian Pembangunan Kurikulum (BPK), KPM)