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Definition Types of waves Classifying waves Properties of waves Wave equation Sound waves
WAVES
Waves can move energy / information from one place to another without moving any substance from one place to another.
Types of waves
Waves
Mechanical waves
Electromagnetic waves
Mechanical waves
Waves that require medium through which to travel. Examples : sound waves, seismic waves, water waves.
Electromagnetic waves
Waves that require NO medium through which to travel. It can travel through a vacuum. Caused by acceleration of charged particles. In free space, all EM waves move with the same speed : 3 x 108 m s-1. Examples : infrared, microwaves, UV, etc.
Progressive waves
A disturbance which carries energy from one place to another without transferring matter PROGRESSIVE WAVES The direction it moves in is called the direction of propagation. There are two types : a) Transverse waves b) Longitudinal waves
a) Transverse waves
The oscillations is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. i.e : water waves, EM waves, waves on stretched spring.
b) Longitudinal waves
The oscillations is parallel to the direction of propagation of the wave. i.e : sound waves
Wavefront
Is a line or surface, in the path of a wave motion where all the displacement at any point have the same phase.
Continuous waves to model what is happening at the middle of a wave rather than at the start/end of it.
PROPERTIES OF WAVES
Describing waves
crest wavelength
amplitude
trough
Amplitude, A Size of maximum disturbance measured from the resting position. Unit : meter (m). Wavelength, Distance between two neighbouring particles which are in phase. Unit : meter (m). Frequency, f The number of complete cycles in one second. Unit : Hertz (Hz).
Period,T Time taken for one complete cycle. Unit : second (s).
1 f T
v f
Exercise 1.1
The period and velocity of a wave are 2 seconds and 0.2 m s-1 respectively. The wavelength of the wave is
Exercise 1.2
In 10 s, 20 ups and downs are produced in a slinky spring. (a) What is the frequency of the wave? (b) If the wavelength is 0.2 m, what is the wave speed?
Exercise 1.3
A boy throws a stone into a pond and makes some measurements of the ripples produced. He notes that 25 ripples are produced and they travel 4 m in 10 s from where the stone enters the water. Find (a) the wavelength (b) the speed (c) the frequency of the water waves