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First-year university waves and optics

Study first-year university waves and optics in sequence, with optional extensions, a topic check and structured practice.

  • University Physics Year 1

Before you begin

UY1 waves and optics is about clean phase reasoning with explicit approximations. State why small-angle, far-field or mode assumptions are valid before you apply an equation.

Learning goals
  • Represent oscillations and travelling waves in space, time, phase, and energy.
  • Apply superposition, interference, diffraction, and optical-system models with stated approximations.
  • Check wave and optics results using dimensions, limits, symmetry, and observable consequences.

Lessons

Work through them in order.

  1. Free oscillations, investigation and quantitiesDescribe oscillations by period, frequency, angular frequency and phase.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  2. The SHM restoring law and motion equationsApply a = -ω² x and the SHM relations for displacement, velocity and energy.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  3. Progressive waves, wave graphs and phase differenceRead wave graphs, use v = fλ and calculate phase difference from a path difference or a time delay.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  4. Superposition and standing wavesAdd wave displacements by superposition, locate the nodes and antinodes of stationary waves and relate string length to each harmonic.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  5. Standing sound waves in air columnsFind the modes of open and closed air columns and the wavelength of sound.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  6. Coherence and two-source interferenceState the conditions for a stable interference pattern and locate its maxima and minima.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  7. Young's double-slit experimentUse x = λ D/a and the small-angle approximation for double-slit fringes.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  8. Single-slit diffractionPredict when diffraction is significant and use b sin θ = λ to find the first minimum of a single slit.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  9. The diffraction gratingUse d sin θ = nλ to find wavelengths and the highest order of a grating.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  10. Resolution and the Rayleigh criterionApply the Rayleigh criterion to decide whether two sources are resolved.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics
  11. Polarisation and Malus' lawExplain polarisation as evidence that a wave is transverse and use Malus' law after a polariser.From GCE A-Level H2 Physics

Practise and check

Recommended nextWaves and optics topic check

Or choose

Topic reference

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