Wave Resonance
Update - 1/1/2026
These notes have changed to match the 2025 IB Physics curriculum and a "forces first" sequence. If you are looking for the files that were posted here, you can find them in the notes archive 

Content Guide

Content Guide - Wave Resonance (pdf)
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Content Guide - Wave Resonance (editable)
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Content Guide - Wave Resonance - KEY (pdf)
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Content Guide - Wave Resonance - KEY (editable)
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1 - Simple Harmonic Motion

  • I can describe simple harmonic motion using period and frequency
  • I can calculate period, frequency, and angular frequency
  • I can describe the direction and calculate the magnitude of force for an oscillating spring system
  • I can describe the properties of a spring or pendulum system that impact period
1 - Simple Harmonic Motion - COMPLETE (pdf)
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1 - Simple Harmonic Motion - COMPLETE (editable)
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1 - Simple Harmonic Motion - STUDENT (pdf)
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1 - Simple Harmonic Motion - STUDENT (editable)
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2 - Graphing SHM

  • I can graph displacement, velocity, and acceleration vs time for simple harmonic motion
  • I can graph kinetic and potential energy vs time for SHM
  • I can graph acceleration and velocity vs displacement for simple harmonic motion
  • I can describe the phenomenon of resonance
  • I can describe the effect of damping and recognize scenarios where an oscillation is underdamped, overdamped, or critically damped
2 - Graphing SHM - COMPLETE (pdf)
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2 - Graphing SHM - COMPLETE (editable)
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2 - Graphing SHM - STUDENT (pdf)
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2 - Graphing SHM - STUDENT (editable)
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3 - Wave Properties

  • I can describe how waves carry energy through a medium
  • I can compare the properties of transverse and longitudinal waves
  • I can read a wave’s amplitude, wavelength, period, and frequency from a graph
  • I can describe the number of complete wavelengths represented in a picture
  • I can use the wave speed equation to mathematically relate speed, wavelength, and frequency
3 - Wave Properties - COMPLETE (pdf)
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3 - Wave Properties - COMPLETE (editable)
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3 - Wave Properties - STUDENT (pdf)
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3 - Wave Properties - STUDENT (editable)
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4 - Sound

  • I can relate the pitch of a sound to the frequency of the sound wave
  • I can describe why sound travels at different speeds in different media
  • I can calculate how far a distant object is by timing an echo
4 - Sound - COMPLETE (pdf)
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4 - Sound - COMPLETE (editable)
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4 - Sound - STUDENT (pdf)
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4 - Sound - STUDENT (editable)
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5 - Instruments

  • I can identify and label the node and antinodes on a standing wave diagram
    I can describe the end conditions and nodes/antinodes for open/closed pipes and strings
    I can relate length and wavelength for open/closed pipes and vibrating strings 
    I can calculate the length of a pipe/string required to resonate a specific frequency
5 - Instruments - COMPLETE (pdf)
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5 - Instruments - COMPLETE (editable)
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5 - Instruments - STUDENT (pdf)
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5 - Instruments - STUDENT (editable)
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