Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
WAVES
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WAVES
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Subject: Physics
Class: SHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 18
Grade code: 2.2.2.LI.2
Strand code: 2
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 2.2.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.2.2.LI.2
Theme: ENERGY
Subtheme: WAVES
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Waves are all around us, carrying energy from one place to another. The sound of the school bell, the light from the sun that helps our crops grow, the radio waves that bring us our favourite programmes on Peace FM, and the ripples we see when a stone is dropped in a bucket of water are all examples of waves. Understanding how to classify these waves helps us to understand their properties and how they behave. In this lesson, we will explore the different ways scientists categorise waves, which is the first step to mastering the fascinating world of wave mechanics. This knowledge is fundamental to understanding everything from music and communication to medical imaging and earthquakes.
This lesson focuses on classifying waves. We can classify waves using three main pairs of categories. A single wave can fit into one from each pair.
Classification 1: Based on the Medium of Propagation
This classification asks the question: "Does the wave need a material (a medium) to travel through?"
a) Mechanical Waves: Definition: These are waves that require a physical medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel. They cannot travel through a vacuum (empty space). How they work: The wave's energy is transferred through the vibration of particles in the medium. One particle bumps into the next, passing the energy along. Examples in Ghana: Sound waves: The sound from a beating *fontomfrom* drum travels through the air particles to our ears. Water waves: Waves at Labadi Beach travel through the water. Waves on a rope: If you and a friend stretch a rope and one of you shakes it, the wave travels along the rope. Seismic waves: The waves from an earthquake that travel through the Earth's crust.