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CAIE
8. Superposition
8.1 Stationary waves
- explain and use the principle of superposition
- show an understanding of experiments that demonstrate stationary waves using microwaves, stretched strings and air columns (it will be assumed that end corrections are negligible; knowledge of the concept of end corrections is not required)
- explain the formation of a stationary wave using a graphical method, and identify nodes and antinodes
- understand how wavelength may be determined from the positions of nodes or antinodes of a stationary wave
8.2 Diffraction
- explain the meaning of the term diffraction
- show an understanding of experiments that demonstrate diffraction including the qualitative effect of the gap width relative to the wavelength of the wave; for example diffraction of water waves in a ripple tank
8.3 Interference
- understand the terms interference and coherence
- show an understanding of experiments that demonstrate two-source interference using water waves in a ripple tank, sound, light and microwaves
- understand the conditions required if two-source interference fringes are to be observed
- recall and use λ = ax /D for double-slit interference using light
8.4 The diffraction grating
- recall and use d sin θ = nλ
- describe the use of a diffraction grating to determine the wavelength of light (the structure and use of the spectrometer are not included)