WAVES

Chapter 11

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Describe what is meant by wave motion
as illustrated vibrations in ropes and
springs and by water waves in ripple
tank.
Show understanding that waves
transfer energy without transferring
matter.
Define speed, frequency, wavelength,
period and amplitude.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
State the relationship
speed =
frequency x wavelength to new
situations or to solve related problems.
Compare transverse and longitudinal
waves and give suitable examples of
each.

QUIZ
Tsunami waves can be very long (as much as 100
km). What does this means?

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does this mean?

QUIZ
Tsunami waves can be very long (as much
as 100 km). What does this means?
A complete Tsunami waves can be
100 km long (ie the crest from one
Tsunami wave to the next crest of
the next Tsunami wave)
Tsunami waves are as far as one hour
apart. What does this mean?
It takes one hour to generate one
complete Tsunami wave.

11.1 INTRODUCING
WAVES
What are waves?
A wave is a phenomenon in which energy
is transferred through vibrations.
Example: water waves, sound waves.
The source of a wave is disturbance. At
the source, waves are produced by a
vibration or oscillation.
Waves transfer energy from one point
to another without transferring matter.

11.2 TRANSVERSE AND

LONGITUDINAL WAVES
The two main types of mechanical waves
are transverse waves and longitudinal
waves.

11.2 TRANSVERSE
WAVES
Transverse waves are waves in which the
direction of particle vibration is
perpendicular to the direction of
energy travel (wave motion).
Examples of transverse wave: water
waves, light, electromagnetic
spectrum
Direction
of
particle
vibration
Direction of
wave motion

11.2 LONGITUDINAL
WAVES
Longitudinal waves are waves in which
the direction of particle vibration is
parallel to the direction of energy
travel (wave motion).
Examples of longitudinal wave: sound
Direction of
wave motion

Direction of
particle vibration

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION

Crests and Troughs

The highest and lowest points in a
transverse wave respectively.

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION

Amplitude
The maximum displacement from the
rest position.

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION

Phase
Two points on a wave which are moving with the same
velocity and have the same displacement from the rest
position.
Point P and R are in phase.

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION

Wavelength
The distance between two successive
points that are in phase.

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION

Wavelength
In a transverse wave, the wavelength is easily
found by finding the distance between 2
successive crests or troughs.

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION
one wavelength

{
{

{
{

one wavelength

compression
compression
rarefaction
rarefaction

Wavelength
In a longitudinal wave, the wavelength is easily
found by finding the distance between 2
successive rarefactions or compression.

EXAMPLE 2

State the values for

(a) the amplitude of the wave

0.6 m

(b) the wavelength of the wave

5m

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION
Frequency, f
The number of complete waves
generated in one second.
Measured in Hertz (Hz)
Eg. 4000 Hz means that 4000 waves are
generated in one second.

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION
Period, T
The time taken to generate one
complete wave.
Measured in seconds (s)
Eg. Period of 5 s means that a complete
waves takes 5 s to generate.

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION
The period T and frequency f of a wave is
related by the equation:

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION
period T

Time/s

period T

Refer to page 11-6

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION
Wave speed, v:
The distance moved by a wave in 1
second.
Measured in m/s

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION
The

wave velocity equation:

where
v is the wave speed in m/s
f is the frequency of wave in Hz
is the wavelength in m

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION

What happens to the

wave properties of a
water wave as it
approaches a shallow
end of a pool?

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION
If the depth of water decreases,
the wavelength decreases,
as the frequency remains the same
and the speed decreases.
(Note: frequency of wave depends on the
source of disturbance of the wave.)

11.3 PROPERTIES OF
WAVE MOTION
Wave front

An imaginary line on a wave that joins all

points that are in the same phase.