Physics Topic: Superposition

  1. explain and use the principle of superposition in simple applications

  2. show an understanding of experiments which demonstrate standing (stationary) waves using microwaves, stretched strings and air columns

  3. explain the formation of a standing (stationary) wave using a graphical method, and identify nodes and antinodes, differentiating between pressure and displacement nodes and antinodes for sound waves

  4. determine the wavelength of sound using standing (stationary) waves

  5. show an understanding of the terms diffraction, interference, coherence, phase difference and path difference

  6. show an understanding of phenomena which demonstrate two-source interference using water waves, sound waves, light and microwaves

  7. show an understanding of the conditions required for two-source interference fringes to be observed

  8. recall and use the equation ax/D = λ to solve problems for double-slit interference, where a is the slit separation and x is the fringe separation

  9. recall and use the equation a sinθ = nλ to solve problems involving the principal maxima of a diffraction grating, where a is the slit separation

  10. describe the use of a diffraction grating to determine the wavelength of light (knowledge of the structure and use of a spectrometer is not required)

  11. show an understanding of phenomena which demonstrate diffraction through a single slit or aperture, or across an edge, such as the diffraction of water waves in a ripple tank with both a wide gap and a narrow gap, or the diffraction of sound waves from loudspeakers or around corners

  12. recall and use the equation b sinθ = λ to solve problems involving the positions of the first minima for diffraction through a single slit of width b

  13. recall and use the Rayleigh criterion θ ≈ λ / b for the resolving power of a single aperture, where b is the width of the aperture.