Waves, sound, and physical optics | AP®︎/College Physics 2 | Khan Academy
Investigate the behavior of waves, including sound waves. Learn ways to quantify a wave, including amplitude, wavelength, period, frequency, and wave speed, and how light can be modeled as a wave. Explore diffraction and interference, polarization, the Doppler effect, and thin-film interference.
Overview
Added
March 17, 2026
Subject & domain
earth-environment · waves-sound-light
Grade range
Grade 9 (Freshman)–Grade 12 (Senior)
Page kind
Course
Introduction
Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics Overview
- Core Concepts: Investigation of wave behavior, including sound waves and light modeled as a wave.
- Wave Quantification: Learning to calculate and define amplitude, wavelength, period, frequency, and wave speed.
- Wave Types: Identification and properties of transverse and longitudinal waves.
- Wave Mechanics:
- Calculating wave speed, frequency, and wavelength.
- Using displacement graphs to determine frequency and wavelength.
- Predicting interference patterns and analyzing standing waves (including harmonics).
- Sound Phenomena:
- Wavelength and frequency in tubes.
- Interference of sound waves and beats.
- The Doppler effect.
- Physical Optics:
- Young’s Double Slit Experiment (YDSE) and path difference calculations.
- Diffraction, polarization, and thin-film interference.
- Assessment Structure: The unit includes three quizzes and a final unit test.
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