Ch 6: Wave Phenomena

Sound and Light

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Definition:
A wave is a traveling
disturbance in some
physical system.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Definition:
A wave is a traveling
disturbance in some
physical system.

Waves on water:

The undisturbed system:

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Definition:
A wave is a traveling
disturbance in some
physical system.

Compression waves
on a slinky:
The undisturbed system:

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Waves can be characterized as Transverse or Longitudinal.

In a Transverse wave the wave motion is perpendicular to the
particle motion.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Waves can be characterized as Transverse or Longitudinal.

In a Longitudinal wave the wave motion is parallel to the
particle motion.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Wave properties:
1.) Waves carry energy
2.) All waves have a wave velocity

3.) A wave is periodic if the

waveform repeats itself over
and over at regular intervals.

d
v =
t

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Wave properties:
If a wave is periodic, one can make the following measurements:

wavelength ( )

units - distance

period ( )

units - time

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Wave properties:
period ( )

frequency ( f )

units - time

units - cycles/time
or
units - 1/time

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Wave properties:
period ( )

time per wave

units - time

frequency ( f )

waves per time

units - 1/time

if

T =

10
f =
sec
1
f

, then T =

f =
1
sec

1
10

1
T
cycle
sec

sec

v =
= f
T
=

hz

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Wave properties:
4.) Wave amplitude is a measure
of the strength of the disturbance.
The exact quantity and units will
depend on the type of wave.
The amplitude is not necessarily related to the
velocity, wavelength or frequency.
The amplitude is a measure of energy content.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Wave properties:
5.) Wave dont interact the same
way objects do.
When two waves collide they
overlap to form a more complex
pattern and they can eventually
pass through each other.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Wave properties:
5.) Wave dont interact the same
way objects do.
When two waves collide they
overlap to form a more complex
pattern and they can eventually
pass through each other.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Sound: The physical system is air. The disturbance is

a ripple of compression and rarefaction.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Sound:
Sound travels at a speed of typically 770

mi
hr

or 340

m
sec

For Example:
How long does is take for sound to cross a 10 m room?

v =

d
t

t =

d
v

10 m
=
= 0.029 sec
340 m/s

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Sound:
Sound travels at a speed of typically 770

mi
hr

or 340

m
sec

For Example:
Thunder is heard 12 sec after the associated lightning is seen.
How far away did the lightning strike?
v =

d
t

d = v t = ( 0.21 mi/sec )( 12 sec ) = 2.5 mi

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Sound:
Sound waves carry energy.
The amplitude of the wave determines how much energy
and this in turn translates into the sensation of loudness.
The weakest sound that can be heard (a
level know as the threshold of hearing)
has an energy content roughly:

10-14 J per m3

The threshold of pain has an energy

content roughly:

10-2 J per m3

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Sound:
The threshold of hearing:
The threshold of pain:

10-14 J per m3
10-2 J per m3

This huge range results in another effect.

The sensation of loudness does not increase linearly with energy.

1 vacuum + 1 vacuum = 2 vacuum

0.00001 J + 0.00001 J = 0.00002 J
70 dB

70 dB

73 dB

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Sound:
Most sounds are not simple periodic waves, but
are more complex mixture of waves.
A simple periodic wave in
sound is a pure tone or
note.

The frequency of a note, determines the pitch heard by a

human observer.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Sound:
Frequency:

Wavelength:

Lowest Audible:

20 hz

17 m (~ 56 ft)

1 Octave lower:

128 hz

2.6 m (~ 8.6 ft)

Middle C:

256 hz

1.3 m (~ 4.3 ft)

1 Octave higher:

512 hz

0.7 m (~ 2.1 ft)

Highest Audible:

20,000 hz

0.017 m (~ 2/3 in)

(in prime)

Ultrasound:

(12,000)

>20,000 hz

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Sound:
How many octaves can be heard above middle C?
middle C - 256 hz
512 hz
1024 hz
2048 hz
About 6

4096 hz
~8200 hz
~16,400 hz
~32,800 hz

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Wave properties:
What is the wavelength of middle C?
v = f

v
f

340 m/s
256 hz

= 1.33 m (~ 4.3 ft)

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Light:

Light is a wave disturbance in the electric and

magnetic fields in space.

Electric and magnetic fields surround stationary and

moving electric charges.
Electromagnetic wave is the general
term for any wave of this kind.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Light:
The velocity of electromagnetic waves (light) is extremely fast:

v = 186,000

mi
sec

or 300,000,000

m
sec

E&M waves are the only known wave that can exist in a vacuum.
E&M waves are the fastest known wave or object in the
universe.

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Light:
How long does it take for light to travel from Tahlequah to
New York?
d
t

v =

t =

d
=
v

1500 mi
186,000 mi/s

Travel time for Tahlequah to Moon?

1.3 sec

Sun?

8.3 min

Neptune?

4 hr

= 0.008 sec

Chapter 6 Wave Phenomena

Light:
Freq. (f):
waving a magnet by hand

1 x 100 hz
1 x 101 hz

60 hz waves from household

cords/appliances
Radio:
(CB, short wave,
radar, lightning)

1 x 102 hz
1 x 103 hz
1 x 104 hz
1 x 105 hz

(1000 AM = 1000 khz)

AM Radio

1 x 106 hz
1 x 107 hz

(100 FM = 100 Mhz)

FM Radio & TV

1 x 108 hz
1 x 109 hz