OCR · A-Level · Physics

    Course version: H556 · Version from Sept 2015

    (i) generating and measuring waves, using microphone and loudspeaker, or…

    Full specification wording

    Practical skills: (i) generating and measuring waves, using microphone and loudspeaker, or ripple tank, or vibration transducer, or microwave/radio wave source

    This skill is about producing waves with a suitable source and measuring their properties.

    Checked against the OCR H556 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 8 of 11
    • 3 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    This skill is about producing waves with a suitable source and measuring their properties. A loudspeaker driven by a signal generator generates sound, which a microphone detects and converts to an electrical signal for display or measurement. A ripple tank generates water waves whose wavelength, frequency and speed can be observed and measured. A vibration transducer generates mechanical vibrations, for example on a string or a rod. A microwave or radio wave source generates electromagnetic waves that can be detected and used to measure wavelength and frequency. In each case you control the source, measure quantities such as wavelength, frequency, period or speed, and relate them using the wave equation.

    What earns the marks

    • Match a wave type to a suitable source, such as loudspeaker for sound, ripple tank for water waves, vibration transducer for mechanical waves, or microwave/radio source for electromagnetic waves.
    • Describe how a detector, such as a microphone, is used to convert a wave into a measurable signal.
    • Measure wavelength, frequency, period or speed using an appropriate method for the chosen source.
    • Apply the wave equation relating speed, frequency and wavelength to measurements taken.
    • Explain how changing a source setting, such as generator frequency, affects the generated wave.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Using a microphone to generate sound rather than detect it.

      Put it right: Use a loudspeaker or similar source to generate the sound and a microphone to detect it.

    • Measuring the distance between a node and an adjacent node and calling it the wavelength.

      Put it right: Measure across a full repeating pattern, since adjacent nodes are half a wavelength apart.

    • Mixing up frequency and period when substituting into the wave equation.

      Put it right: Use frequency in hertz and check the units before calculating.

    Exam tips

    • Identify the wave type first, then choose the source and detector that suit it.
    • State the quantity being measured and the instrument or method used, including how the scale is read.
    • Check units and use the wave equation with frequency in hertz and wavelength in metres.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Practical skills: (i) generating and measuring waves, using microphone and loudspeaker, or ripple tank, or vibration transducer, or microwave/radio wave source lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Listen

    This skill is about producing waves with a suitable source and measuring their properties. A loudspeaker driven by a signal generator generates sound, which a microphone detects and converts to an electrical signal for display or measurement. A ripple tank generates water waves whose wavelength, frequency and speed can be observed and measured. A vibration transducer generates mechanical vibrations, for example on a string or a rod. A microwave or radio wave source generates electromagnetic waves that can be detected and used to measure wavelength and frequency. In each case you control the source, measure quantities such as wavelength, frequency, period or speed, and relate them using the wave equation. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Match a wave type to a suitable source, such as loudspeaker for sound, ripple tank for water waves, vibration transducer for mechanical waves, or microwave/radio source for electromagnetic waves. Describe how a detector, such as a microphone, is used to convert a wave into a measurable signal. Measure wavelength, frequency, period or speed using an appropriate method for the chosen source. Apply the wave equation relating speed, frequency and wavelength to measurements taken. A common slip: Using a microphone to generate sound rather than detect it. Instead, use a loudspeaker or similar source to generate the sound and a microphone to detect it. Exam tip: Identify the wave type first, then choose the source and detector that suit it.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. A single node 'Choose wave type' branches into four source nodes: 'Sound: loudspeaker generates', 'Water waves: ripple tank generates', 'Mechanical waves: vibration transducer generates' and 'Electromagnetic waves: microwave/radio source generates'. The sound node leads to 'Microphone detects and converts to electrical signal'; the water node leads to 'Observe and measure wavelength, frequency, speed'; the mechanical node leads to 'Measure wavelength, frequency, period or speed'; the electromagnetic node leads to 'Detector measures wavelength and frequency'. All four of these measurement nodes then lead into a final node 'Apply wave equation'.
    It shows how each wave type is matched to a suitable source and detector before the measured quantities are related using the wave equation.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Detection and conversion of waves to measurable signals

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Measurement of wavelength, frequency, period and speed

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    The wave equation linking speed, frequency and wavelength

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Detection and conversion of waves to measurable signals
    A microphone detects sound and converts it to an electrical signal for display or measurement.
    Measurement of wavelength, frequency, period and speed
    Quantities such as wavelength, frequency, period or speed are measured using an appropriate method for the chosen source.
    The wave equation linking speed, frequency and wavelength
    Measured wave quantities are related using the wave equation, with frequency in hertz and wavelength in metres.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. A single node 'Choose wave type' branches into four source nodes: 'Sound: loudspeaker generates', 'Water waves: ripple tank generates', 'Mechanical waves: vibration transducer generates' and 'Electromagnetic waves: microwave/radio source generates'. The sound node leads to 'Microphone detects and converts to electrical signal'; the water node leads to 'Observe and measure wavelength, frequency, speed'; the mechanical node leads to 'Measure wavelength, frequency, period or speed'; the electromagnetic node leads to 'Detector measures wavelength and frequency'. All four of these measurement nodes then lead into a final node 'Apply wave equation'.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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