Waves at a Boundary
Physics: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 6.2.1
Waves at a Boundary
When waves travel from one medium to another, their speed and wavelength change but their frequency stays the same.
Speed and wavelength change
- The speed of a wave changes when it travels from one medium to another.
- The wavelength of a wave also changes when it travels from one medium to another.
- The speed and the wavelength are directly proportional:
- If the speed doubles, the wavelength doubles.
- If the speed halves, the wavelength halves.
Frequency is unchanged
- The frequency of the wave does not change because the source is producing the same number of oscillations (vibrations) per second.
Test yourself on Waves at a Boundary
Which of these are true of waves at a boundary?
Which of these does not change when a wave crosses a boundary between two substances?