🌊 IGCSE Physics Waves Simulator

Explore wave properties, reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference

λ = 200px | f = 1.0Hz | v = 200px/s

Wave Type

Amplitude: 50 units

Frequency: 1.0 Hz

Wave Properties

Wavelength: 200 units

Speed: 200 units/s

Wave Equation

v = fλ (speed = frequency × wavelength)

T = 1/f (period = 1 / frequency)

Transverse waves: Oscillations perpendicular to direction of energy transfer (e.g., light waves, water waves)

Longitudinal waves: Oscillations parallel to direction of energy transfer (e.g., sound waves)

Incident Angle: 30° | Reflected Angle: 30°

Barrier Properties

Barrier Angle: 0°

Incident Angle: 30°

Wave Properties

Frequency: 2.0 Hz

Amplitude: 40 units

Law of Reflection

θᵢ = θᵣ (angle of incidence = angle of reflection)

The incident ray, reflected ray, and normal all lie in the same plane.

Reflection occurs when waves bounce off a surface. The angle of incidence (measured from the normal) equals the angle of reflection.

n₁ = 1.0 | n₂ = 1.5 | Critical Angle: 42°

Medium Properties

Refractive Index 1: 1.0

Refractive Index 2: 1.5

Wave Properties

Incident Angle: 30°

Frequency: 1.5 Hz

Snell's Law

n₁sin(θ₁) = n₂sin(θ₂)

Critical Angle: θc = arcsin(n₂/n₁) when n₁ > n₂

Refraction: Bending of waves when they enter a different medium

Total Internal Reflection: Occurs when angle > critical angle (n₁ > n₂)

Gap Width: 50px | λ/gap ratio: 0.4

Gap Properties

Gap Width: 50 units

Gap Position: 200 units

Wave Properties

Wavelength: 20 units

Frequency: 2.0 Hz

Diffraction Principles

Diffraction is most significant when λ ≈ gap width

Maximum diffraction: When wavelength equals gap width

Minimal diffraction: When gap width >> wavelength

Diffraction is the spreading of waves when they pass through gaps or around obstacles.

Phase Difference: 0° | Path Difference: 0λ

Source Properties

Source Separation: 100 units

Phase Difference: 0°

Wave Properties

Wavelength: 40 units

Frequency: 1.0 Hz

Wave Interference

Constructive: Path difference = nλ (n = 0, 1, 2, ...)

Destructive: Path difference = (n + ½)λ

Constructive interference: Waves in phase, amplitudes add

Destructive interference: Waves out of phase, amplitudes cancel

Click to create ripples

Ripple Properties

Drop Frequency: 2.0 Hz

Amplitude: 30 units

Tank Properties

Damping: 0.98

Wave Speed: 2.0

Ripple Tank Experiments

Single Point: Click to create circular waves - demonstrates wave propagation

Double Slit: Shows interference patterns between two coherent sources

Barrier: Demonstrates reflection from straight barriers

Ripple tanks are used to visualize wave behavior in two dimensions.