Psychology › Section E · Sensation and perception › Topic E.2
Waves and wavelengths
Vision and hearing both begin with waves arriving at the body. A few physical properties of those waves, their wavelength, frequency and amplitude, map closely onto what we experience as colour, brightness, pitch and loudness, and knowing the map makes the next two topics far easier.
In this topic
- Two senses, one kind of stimulus
- Describing a wave
- Wavelength and frequency are linked
- Light and the visible spectrum
- From light to hue, brightness and saturation
- Worked example: the frequency of green light
- Sound: frequency and pitch
- Amplitude, loudness and decibels
- Worked example: earbuds versus conversation
- Timbre: why instruments differ
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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