Physics - Waves, Sound, & Optics - High School & AP Physics from Udemy

This course is one of several courses designed for Algebra Based AP Physics 1. In this course we will cover the topics waves, sound, and optics.

The videos and resources will include lectures, demonstrations, and plenty of worked out example problems with High School physics curriculum and the AP Physics 1 curriculum in mind. This is perfect for any student planning to take the AP exam or any Introductory College physics student. While this course does not cover calculus based physics, any student enrolled in such course will still benefit from the ground work laid out here.

While this course does have sections for both High School and AP Level Physics, the videos intended for the AP crowed will be clearly labeled.

Upon completion of this course students should look to complete my other courses regarding the other content areas in AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2

What's inside

Learning objective

Master the concepts of waves, sound, and optics.

Syllabus

Waves

Introduction

Physics Course Online Course Map

Waves and Sound Workbook

Wave Characteristics

Phase

Interference and Standing Waves

Sound

Sound and Resonance

The Doppler Effect

Geometric Optics

Plane Mirror Reflection

AP Physics Only - Plane Mirror Reflection Ray Diagram

AP Physics Only - Spherical Mirrors 1 - Introduction

AP Physics Only - Spherical Mirrors 2 - Cases 1-6

AP Physics Only - Spherical Mirrors 3 - Convex

Refraction

AP Physics Only - Thin Lens - Case Rules Intro

AP Physics Only - Thin Lens - Case Rules

Physical Optics

AP Physics Only - Huygens, Diffraction, Double Slit Part 1

AP Physics Only - Huygens, Diffraction, Double Slit Part 2

AP Physics Only - Single Opening, Grating, Spectroscopy

AP Physics Only - Thin Film Interference, Polarization

AP Physics Only - Dispersion

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Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a strong foundation in waves, sound, and optics, which are fundamental concepts in introductory physics courses

Includes lectures, demonstrations, and worked examples tailored to high school and AP Physics 1 curricula, which reinforces learning

Covers topics such as wave characteristics, interference, resonance, reflection, refraction, and diffraction, which are standard topics in physics

Features sections specifically labeled for AP Physics, which allows students to focus on the most relevant material for exam preparation

Recommends completing other courses to cover the remaining content areas in AP Physics 1 and 2, which suggests a comprehensive curriculum

Includes topics such as thin film interference and polarization, which may be more advanced and require additional study and practice

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Physics - Waves, Sound, & Optics - High School & AP Physics with these activities:

Review Trigonometry Fundamentals

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Strengthen your understanding of trigonometry, which is essential for understanding wave superposition, interference, and diffraction.

Browse courses on Trigonometry

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Review trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent).
Practice solving problems involving angles and triangles.
Understand the unit circle and its relationship to trigonometric functions.

Read 'Fundamentals of Waves and Oscillations' by K.U. Ingard

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Deepen your understanding of wave mechanics with a comprehensive textbook.

View Fundamentals of Waves and Oscillations on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Fundamentals of Waves and Oscillations'.
Read chapters related to wave propagation, interference, and diffraction.
Work through example problems to solidify your understanding.

Solve Optics Problems

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Improve your problem-solving skills in geometric and physical optics.

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Find practice problems on refraction, reflection, and lens systems.
Work through problems involving ray diagrams and image formation.
Solve problems related to interference, diffraction, and polarization.

Three other activities

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Create a Video Explaining the Doppler Effect

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Solidify your understanding of the Doppler effect by explaining it to others.

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Research the Doppler effect and its applications.
Write a script explaining the concept in simple terms.
Record a video demonstrating the Doppler effect with examples.
Edit and publish the video online.

Read 'Optics' by Eugene Hecht

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Gain a deeper understanding of optics with a comprehensive textbook.

View Optics,5/Ed on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Optics' by Eugene Hecht.
Read chapters related to geometric and physical optics.
Work through example problems to solidify your understanding.

Build a Spectroscope

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Apply your knowledge of diffraction and spectroscopy by building a simple spectroscope.

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Research the design and construction of simple spectroscopes.
Gather materials such as cardboard, diffraction grating, and lenses.
Assemble the spectroscope according to your design.
Test the spectroscope by observing the spectra of different light sources.

Career center

Learners who complete Physics - Waves, Sound, & Optics - High School & AP Physics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Physics Teacher

A physics teacher educates students on the principles of physics, often at a secondary or post-secondary level. This course is directly relevant for anyone pursuing a career as a physics teacher, as it directly covers the physics of waves, sound, and optics, which are standard topics in high school and introductory college physics courses. The course's detailed examples, demonstrations, and worked problems are particularly helpful for a physics teacher who will need to present these topics clearly to students. The clarity of the course helps prepare anyone wanting to become a physics teacher.

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Acoustical Engineer

An acoustical engineer works with sound and vibration, often designing spaces for optimal sound quality or mitigating noise pollution. This course helps build a foundation in wave mechanics and sound, which are crucial for understanding how sound propagates, interacts with materials, and can be manipulated for desired effects. Specifically, the sections on sound, resonance, and the Doppler effect are directly relevant for anyone interested in becoming an acoustical engineer. The course also covers wave characteristics, which further strengthens knowledge for the acoustical engineer, and would be useful for analyzing sound data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Acoustical Engineer

Optics Engineer

An optics engineer designs and develops optical systems such as lenses, cameras, and lasers. This course may be useful in building a foundation in geometric and physical optics, essential for anyone wanting to become an optics engineer. The course covers plane mirror reflection, spherical mirrors, refraction, thin lenses, diffraction, and polarization, each of which is essential for this role. By understanding these elements, an optics engineer is better equipped to design and test optical devices, and the course's section on dispersion can be vital in applications such as spectroscopy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Optics Engineer

Laser Technician

A laser technician works with lasers in a variety of settings, such as manufacturing and research. This course is helpful for a laser technician who needs to understand the underlying principles of optics. The detailed coverage of reflection, refraction, and diffraction provides a good base of knowledge for someone preparing to work with lasers. The thorough treatment of wave properties will also be valuable for anyone who makes use of lasers. A laser technician will be able to apply the course's principles in their daily work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Laser Technician

Engineering Technician

An engineering technician assists engineers in the design, development, and testing of various projects. This course is particularly helpful for an engineering technician who needs a foundation in how waves, sound, and optics interact. This course will prepare an engineering technician for a role in projects that involve testing or applications of these physical properties. The work examples will help solidify their understanding. The hands-on aspect of their work will be supported by this course.

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Research and Development Engineer

A research and development engineer designs and develops new products and technologies. This course helps to build a foundation in how waves, sound, and optics behave. This may be helpful for a research and development engineer working on products that use these principles. A thorough understanding of these physical phenomena can provide engineers with the knowledge they need to innovate in their field. This course helps a research and development engineer develop a robust understanding of these physical phenomena.

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Audio Technician

An audio technician is responsible for setting up, operating, and maintaining audio equipment for events and recordings. This course may be useful in helping someone become an audio technician by providing a basis in sound characteristics, resonance, and the Doppler effect, all of which are crucial to understanding how audio equipment functions and how sound behaves in different environments. The course's exploration of wave characteristics and interference patterns is also helpful in understanding audio phenomena. An audio technician can use knowledge of these concepts to optimize sound quality and troubleshoot potential issues.

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Research Scientist

A research scientist conducts scientific research, often in a specific area of physics. This course may be beneficial to a research scientist who needs to understand the fundamentals of waves, sound, and optics. This course helps build their knowledge of the propagation of waves, the behavior of light and sound, and the principles of interference and diffraction. All of these are useful for specific research domains. For example, anyone who studies wave phenomena or spectroscopy can use concepts taught in this course.

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Medical Physicist

A medical physicist applies physics principles to medicine, such as in radiation therapy or medical imaging. This course may be helpful for a medical physicist, especially one who works with imaging modalities. The course's coverage of optics, particularly thin lenses and wave phenomena, may be useful when understanding how medical imaging equipment works. Further, knowledge of wave characteristics is extremely important in many medical physics applications. A medical physicist will find the material here helpful.

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Materials Scientist

A materials scientist studies the properties of different materials, often with a focus on their application in technology. This course may be useful for a materials scientist, particularly one who deals with optical characteristics of materials. The discussion of optics, including refraction, reflection, and thin film interference found in this course, can help inform the selection of materials for various applications. A materials scientist will find the course's sections on how materials interact with light to be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Science Journalist

A science journalist researches and writes about scientific topics for the public. This course may be useful for a science journalist who reports on topics related to physics, waves, sound, or optics. The content can provide the necessary physics background to enable the journalist to explain these topics clearly and accurately. A science journalist may find the worked examples helpful in developing a deeper understanding of physical phenomena. The conceptual depth of this course helps a science journalist write with expertise.

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Geophysicist

A geophysicist studies the physical properties and processes of the Earth. A geophysicist may find this course helpful, particularly when studying seismic waves or acoustic soundings. The course's coverage of wave characteristics, interference, and the Doppler effect helps a geophysicist to interpret data collected from the field. These principles are applicable to the analysis of seismic activity and other geophysical phenomena. Any geophysicist working with wave data may wish to take this course.

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Science Communicator

A science communicator conveys scientific information to the public through various media. This course may be useful for a science communicator, who may need to explain the principles of waves, sound, and optics. This course may provide a fundamental understanding of these concepts, and the detailed lectures can help a science communicator accurately and engagingly translate this science to a general audience. The course's focus on clarity helps a science communicator prepare presentations or other content.

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Patent Attorney

A patent attorney specializes in securing intellectual property rights for inventions. This course may be helpful for a patent attorney, in particular one specializing in technology related to waves, sound, or optics. The course provides a foundation in the physics principles needed to understand the scope of patents. The thorough coverage of these areas will allow a patent attorney to accurately assess the novelty and non-obviousness of inventions. This course helps a patent attorney who needs to understand these topics.

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Software Engineer

A software engineer designs and develops software for a variety of applications, and some software engineers may work on projects involving simulations of waves, sound, or optics. This course may be useful for a software engineer who wants to better understand the underlying physics they may need to simulate. The course's coverage of wave mechanics and optical phenomena may be useful when modeling these physical concepts. For a software engineer, this course may provide a background in mathematical models of physical concepts.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Physics - Waves, Sound, & Optics - High School & AP Physics.

Optics

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Comprehensive and widely used textbook on optics, covering both geometric and physical optics in detail. It provides a rigorous mathematical treatment of the subject and includes numerous examples and problems. It useful reference tool for students seeking a deeper understanding of optics. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

Optics,5/Ed

Paperback

Fundamentals of Waves and Oscillations

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Provides a comprehensive treatment of wave phenomena, covering topics such as wave propagation, interference, diffraction, and polarization. It offers a more in-depth mathematical treatment than typically found in high school physics textbooks. It is useful for students seeking a deeper understanding of the underlying physics and mathematical formalism. This book is more valuable as additional reading to expand on the course material.

Fundamentals of Waves and Oscillations

Paperback

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Physics - Waves, Sound, & Optics - High School & AP Physics

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