Intensity of a Wave (OCR A Level Physics)

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Katie M

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Intensity of a Progressive Wave

  • Progressive waves transfer energy
  • The amount of energy passing through a unit area per unit time is the intensity of the wave
    • Therefore, the intensity is defined as power per unit area

Intensity and power equation, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes
  • The unit of intensity is Watts per metre squared (W m-2)

  • The area the wave passes through is perpendicular to the direction of its velocity
  • The intensity of a progressive wave is also proportional to its amplitude squared and frequency squared

Intensity and amplitude equation, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes
  • This means that if the frequency or the amplitude is doubled, the intensity increases by a factor of 4 (22)

Spherical waves

  • A spherical wave is a wave from a point source which spreads out equally in all directions
  • The area the wave passes through is the surface area of a sphere: 4πr2
  • As the wave travels further from the source, the energy it carries passes through increasingly larger areas as shown in the diagram below:

Intensity of a spherical wave, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Intensity is proportional to the amplitude squared

 
  • Assuming there’s no absorption of the wave energy, the intensity I decreases with increasing distance from the source
  • Note the intensity is proportional to 1 / r2
    • This means when the source is twice as far away, the intensity is 4 times less

  • The 1 / r2 relationship is known in physics as the inverse square law

Worked example

The intensity of a progressive wave is proportional to the square of the amplitude of the wave. It is also proportional to the square of the frequency.The variation with time t of displacement x of particles when two progressive waves Q and P pass separately through a medium are shown on the graphs.The intensity of wave Q is I0.What is the intensity of wave P?

Worked example - intensity (2), downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Examiner Tip

The key takeaway here is:

Intensity has an inverse square relationship with distance (not a linear one)

This means the energy of a wave decreases very rapidly with increasing distance

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Katie M

Author: Katie M

Expertise: Physics

Katie has always been passionate about the sciences, and completed a degree in Astrophysics at Sheffield University. She decided that she wanted to inspire other young people, so moved to Bristol to complete a PGCE in Secondary Science. She particularly loves creating fun and absorbing materials to help students achieve their exam potential.