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At the end of this chapter, students should be able to: 1. Define what is a wave 2. Explain the formation of mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves. 3. Describe: a. Transverse waves b. Longitudinal waves 4. Understand the how wavelength, period, frequency, amplitude of wave, wave number and phase angle relate to each other. 5. Analyze and use equations for progressive wave
y ( x, t ) = A sin(t kx )

1.1 Waves

A wave is defined as the propagation of a disturbance that carries the energy and momentum away from the source of disturbance. Wave is a disturbance or variation which travels through a medium The medium through which the wave travels may experience some local oscillations as the wave passes, but the particles in the medium to not travel with the wave. A group of people jumps up and sits back down, some nearby people see them and they jump up, some people further away follow suit and pretty soon you have a wave traveling around the stadium. The wave is the disturbance (people jumping up and sitting back down), and it travels around the stadium. However, none of the individual people the stadium are carried around with the wave as it travels - they all remain at their seats.

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1.1.1 Mechanical Waves

Mechanical wave is defined as a disturbance that travels through particles of the medium to transfer energy.

Sound waves

Water waves Mechanical wave

Seismic waves

Waves in spring

Waves on string / rope

All mechanical waves require: 1. Some source of disturbance 2. A medium that can be disturbed 3. A mechanism to transfer the disturbance from one point to the next point along the medium.

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1.1.2 Electromagnetic Waves (E.M. waves)

E.M. wave is defined as the transportation of energy because of the disturbance in electric and magnetic fields.

It can propagate in empty space (vacuum), where there is no medium.

E.g.: visible light, ultraviolet light, microwaves, x-rays and radar waves.

1.2 Progressive Waves

Is defined as the one which the wave profile propagates.

The progressive waves have a definite speed called the speed of propagation or wave speed.

The direction of the wave speed is always in the same direction of the wave propagation.

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Types of wave

Transverse wave

Longitudinal wave

Is a wave in which the direction of vibrations of particle is perpendicular to the direction of the wave propagation.

Is a wave in which the direction of vibrations of the particle is parallel to the direction of the wave propagation.

E.g.: water waves, waves in string

E.g.: sound waves, waves in spring

Longitudinal disturbance of particles resulting periodic pattern of compression and rarefaction.

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1.3 Properties of waves

Wavelength,

Is defined as two consecutive particles (points) which have the same phase in a wave. The S.I unit of wavelength is meter, m.

Period, T

Is defined as the time taken for a particle (point) in the wave to complete one cycle. In this period T, the wave profile moves a distance of one wavelength, . Thus Period of the wave = Period of the particle on the wave

And

T=

1 f

Its unit is seconds, s.

Frequency, f

Is defined as the number of cycles (wavelength) produced in one second. Its unit is hertz (Hz) or s-1

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Amplitude, A

Is defined as the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position to the crest or through the wave motion.

Wave speed, v

Is defined as the distance traveled by a wave profile per unit time. Or, v =

distace = time t

v = f
The S.I unit of wave speed is ms-1 The value of wave speed is constant but the velocity of the particles vibration in waves is varies with time, t.

Wave number, k

Is defined as k =

The S.I unit of wave number is m-1.

Displacement, y Is defined as the distance moved by a particle from its equilibrium at every point along the wave.

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Example 1:

y (cm) 40 cm

15 cm

x (cm)

A wave traveling in the positive x direction as pictured above. Find the amplitude, wavelength, period, and speed of wave if it has a frequency of 8.0 Hz.

Solution: The amplitude and wavelength can be read directly from the figure. A = 15 cm = 0.15 m = 40 cm = 0.40 m

The period of the wave is T= 1 1 = = 0.13s f 80 Hz

Wave speed is v = f = (8.0 Hz )(0.40m) = 3.2ms 1

Example 2: The note middle C on a piano has a frequency of approximately 262 Hz and wavelength in air of 1.31 m. Find the speed of sound in air.

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1.4 Equation of Displacement for Sinusoidal Progressive Wave

Consider x = 0 as a reference particle. Hence, the equation of displacement for particle at x = 0 is given by y (t ) = A sin t

Since the wave profile propagates to the right, the other particles will vibrate. For example

o The vibration of particle at P lags behind the vibration of particle O by the

phase difference of radian.

o Thus the phase of particle at P is (t ) o The equation of displacement for particles vibration at P is
y (t ) = A sin(t )

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Consider three particles in the wave profile that propagate to the right

From this figure, when increases, the distance between two particles, x increases too.

x = 2 2 = x = kx Therefore, the general equation of displacement for sinusoidal progressive wave is given by

o The wave propagates to the right

y ( x, t ) = A sin(t kx + )

o The wave propagates to the left

y ( x, t ) = A sin(t + kx + ) Where, y(x, t) : displacement of the particle as a function of x and t A : wave amplitude : angular frequency k : wave number x : distance from origin t : time : phase angle Phase angle, indicates the position of the particle at distance x = 0 in the wave when t = 0. If y = 0 at x = 0 and t = 0, then = 0.

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1.5 Displacement Graphs of the Wave

General equation of displacement:

y ( x, t ) = A sin(t kx )

What is graph of displacement, y, against distance, x?

o Graph that shows the displacement of all particles in the wave at any
particular time, t. For example, consider the equation of the wave is y = A sin(t kx) At t = 0, y = A sin( (0) kx) y = A sin( kx) y = A sin(kx) Thus the graph of displacement, y against distance, x is

o Curve C o Curve D

the displacement of all particles at t = 0 s the displacement of all particles at t = t1 after the wave

propagates by distance x1.

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What is graph of displacement, y, against time, t?

o Graph that shows the displacement of any one particle in the wave at any
particular distance, x from origin. For example, consider the equation of the wave is y = A sin(t kx) For the particle at x = 0, the equation of the particle is given by y = A sin(t k (0)) y = A sin(t ) Hence the displacement-time graph is

For the particle at x = 0.25 , the equation of the particle is given by y = A sin(t k (0.25 )) 2 y = A sin t (0.25 ) We know k = 2

y = A sin t 2
Hence the displacement-time graph is

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