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Complete Oscillation
A complete oscillation occurs when the vibrating object moves to and fro from its original position and moves in the same direction as its original motion.
Amplitude
Amplitude is the maximum displacement of an object from its equilibrium position. The SI unit for amplitude is meter, m.
Period
Period is defined as the time required for one complete oscillation or vibration.
Frequency
Frequency, f is the number of complete oscillations that take place in one second. The SI unit for frequency is hertz, Hz. Important Formula:
of an oscillation
Natural Frequency
The Natural frequency of an oscillating system is the frequency of the system when there is no external force acting on it.
Damping
Damping is the decrease in the amplitude of an An oscillating system experiences damping when its The frequency of the system remains unchanged.
oscillating system.
Graph of Damping
The Displacement - Time Graph
energy due to the extension and compression of the molecules in the system.
Force Oscillation
In a damped oscillation, external force must be applied to the system to enable the oscillation to go on continuously. Oscillation with the help of external force or forces is called a force oscillation.
Resonance
In a force oscillation, if the frequency of the external force is equal to the natural frequency of the system, the system will oscillates with maximum amplitude, and this is named as resonance.
Barton's Pendulum
When pendulum X oscillates, the other pendulums are forced to oscillate. Pendulum D will oscillates with the largest amplitude. Pendulum X and D have equal length and consequently equal natural frequency. Therefore resonance happens to pendulum D, and it oscillates with maximum amplitude.
Wave
A wave is a disturbance or variation that propagates Waves travel and transfer energy (its amplitude) and
information (its frequency) from one point to another, with no permanent displacement of the particles of the medium.
What is phase?
A phase is the current position in the cycle of Two vibrating particles are in the same phase if their
Wavefront
A wavefront is a line or a surface that connects points that are moving at the same phase and has the same distance from the source of the waves.
Wavelength
The wavelength (l) is defined as the distance between two successive particles which are at the same phase (exactly the same point in their paths and are moving in the same direction.).
As shown in the diagram, A and B are in the same phase, therefore the distance between A and B is the wave length of the wave.
A transverse wave is a wave where the particles of the medium vibrate in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the wave motion. Example: Light wave, ripple, radio wave
A longitudinal wave is a wave where the particles of the medium vibrate in a direction that is parallel to the direction of the wave motion. Example: Sound Wave
When water waves are propagating from deeper region to a shallower region, the wave will be refracted approaching the normal.
When water waves are propagating from shallower region to a deeper region, the wave will be refracted away from the normal.
At the middle of the sea, the wavefront is a linear line. When waves move close to the coast line, the
wavefronts start to curve and follow the topography of the coast line.
At the bay, the energy of the wave spread to a wider At the cape, the energy of the wave is converged to
Diffraction
Diffraction is the spreading of a wave when it travels through an opening or a small obstacle.
Charecteristic of Diffraction
1. 2. 3. 4. Wavelength does not change. Frequency does not change. Speed of diffracted does not change. The amplitude of the wave decreases after diffraction.
Waves spread to a wider area after passing the The wavelength and the frequency remain unchanged
obstacle.
after diffraction.
Waves spread to a wider area after passing through The wavelength and the frequency remain unchanged
the opening.
after diffraction.
In the diagram above, we can see that as the wavelength of a wave is longer, it will be diffracted more compare with a wave with shorter wavelegth.
Diagram above shows that the magnitude of diffration will reduce when the size of opening increases.
Principle of Superposition
The principle of superposition states that where two or more waves meet, the total displacement at any point is the vector sum of the displacements that each individual wave would cause at that point.
Coherent Wave
Two wave sources which are coherent have the same frequency (therefore same wavelength) and in phase or constant phase difference.
Interference
The effect of superposition of two coherent waves is interference. Interference is the phenomenon when two or more waves overlap in the same region of space at the same time.
Constructive interference
Superposition of waves which have same phase (2 crest or 2 trough) to produce a resultant wave which vibrates with maximum amplitude.
Destructive Interference
Superposition of waves which are anti-phase (crest and trough) to produce a resultant wave which vibrates with minimum amplitude.
An anti-node is a point of maximum amplitude where constructive interference occurs. Whereas a node is point of zero amplitude where destructive interference occurs. The anti-node line joins all anti-node points. The node line joins all node points.
Interference's Formula
Sound Wave
medium for its propagation. Therefore sound wave cannot propagate in vacuum.
The medium for propagation can be solid, liquid or Sound waves propagate fastest in solid and slowest
gas.
in gas.
Sound wave is a series of compression and rarefaction of layers of air molecules repeatedly through space. The forward and backward vibration of the air molecules in the direction of motion of a sound wave shows that sound is a longitudinal wave.
frequency in the range of 20Hz 20,000Hz, and the sound wave with frequency in this range is called an audio/Sonic wave.
Sound wave with frequency lower than 20Hz is called Sound wave with frequency higher than 20,000Hz is
an Infrasonic Wave.
Speed of sound wave in solids is greater than in Speed of sound in air is not affected by pressure, As temperature increases, speed of sound in air Sound usually travels more slowly with greater
Loudness is influenced by the amplitude of the sound wave.The greater the amplitude of sound wave, the higher the loudness of the wave. The pitch of a sound is high or low of the sound. The pitch of sound is determined by its frequency. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch.
The clicking sound of the stop watch can be heared clearly when the angle of incidence, i is equal to the angle of reflection, r. Sound waves obey the law of reflection. That is, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
The amplitude of the sound wave increases when a balloon filled with carbon dioxide is placed between the speaker and the microphone.
Explanation:
Carbon dioxide is denser than air. The sound wave is refracted approaching the
normal when the wave propagates from the air into the balloon, and away from normal when moving out from the balloon.
The amplitude of the sound wave decreases when a balloon filled with helium gas is placed between the speaker and the microphone.
Helium gas is less dense than air. The sound wave is refracted away from the normal
when the wave propagates from the air into the balloon, and closer to the normal when moving out from the balloon.
The sound of a distance train is clearer at night. Explanation: At night, the air closer to the ground is cooler than the air further from the ground. Sound wave travel slower in cool air. As a result, the sound wave is refracted in the path of curve towards the ground instead of spreading to a wider area (as at daytime).
The street cleaner can hear the sound of the radio even though it is behind an obstacle.
Explanation: The sound of the radio spreads around the corner of the wall due to diffraction of sound wave.
Alternating loud and soft sounds are detected as the microphone is moved from left to right. Explanation: The two loud speakers are sources of two coherent sound waves as they are connected to the same audio signal generator.
The alternating loud and soft sounds are caused by interference of the sound wave.
Formula of Interference
Wavelength of the sound wave is given by the equation
Electromagnetic wave can travel in free space. They travel in straight lines at a speed of They are electric, magnetic and transverse in nature.
polarization.
A transverse wave can be polarized. Plane polarized light will be produced when light
waves of one plane to pass through. This means that only a portion of the source light gets to pass through the polaroid.
Radio Wave
Source Electrical oscillating circuit (consists of a capacitor and an conductor connected in series) Application
Microwave
Source Oscillating electrical charge in a microwave transmitter Application
Satellite transmissions Radar systems to detect objects (size, form and Cooking
position)
Infrared Radiation
Source Hot bodies, the sun and fires Application
Night vision Thermal imaging and physiotherapy Remote controls for TV/VCR Heating in physiotherapy Thermometer Cooking
Visible Light
Source The sun, hot objects, fires, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes Application
Ultraviolet Light
Source Very hot objects, the sun, mercury vapour lamps Application
Identification of counterfeit notes Production of fluorescent effects Production of vitamin D in the skin Sterilisation to destroy germs Pest control Disinfecting drinking water
X-Ray
Source X-ray tubes where high energy electrons bombarding a metal plate. Application
Gamma Ray
Speed of light is higher in a medium of less density as compare with one higher density. The change in velocity of light when it travels from one media to another of different density results in the refraction phenomenon.
Light is diffracted if it passes through a narrow slit. Diffraction pattern is made up of the bright bands and The central band is wider and brighter. The dark and
bright bands of narrower width are alternatively observed on the left and right side of the central bight band.
Light source must be monochromatic. That is, the light must possess only one wavelength. Slit size must be small enough as compare with the wavelength of light.
Young's double-slit is made up of two slits ruled on a piece of slide and painted with 'aquadak'.
Young's double-slit, diffraction of light occurs and two coherent sources (same amplitude, frequency and phase) are produced as shown in the diagram above
Constructive interference generates bright fringes Fringe size of bright fringes and dark fringes are
about similar in size. Fringe separation between any dark fringe and a neighboring bright fringe which alternates in position with the former is the same.