WAVES

WAVES
Wave- a kind of disturbance or vibration in a certain space

- Transfers energy without transferring matter
- Transfer of energy from a vibrating source
- Transfer energy from particle to particle in a medium
- travelling disturbance that carries energy through matter or space with or
without medium
Nature of Waves:
 A wave is a travelling disturbance
 Carries energy from 1 phase to another
 Vibration causes motion
 Waves travel through a medium
Vibration- repeated motion produced by back-and-forth or up and down movement of

an object
- Source of all waves
-
Medium- a substance or material that carries the wave
- Where the waves travel
Ex. Particles of air- in spund wave
Water- in ocean waves
Earth’s layer- in seismic waves
Classifications of waves according to WHAT they move through

(According to presence or absence of medium(ability or inability to transmit
energy into a vacuum)
Medium- a substance or material where a wave can travel
1. Mechanical- requires a medium in order to transfer their energy
- Not Capable of transmitting energy through a vacuum
Ex. Sound, Water, Waves from rope, earthquake
2. Electromagnetic- does not require a medium in order to propagate.
- Capable of transmitting energy through a vacuum (empty space)
- Produced by vibration of charged particles
Ex. Radio wave, microwave, visible light, xray
-arranged according to frequencies and wavelength in an electromagnetic
spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum
Classifications of waves according to HOW particles move through
(according to direction of motion of the vibrating particles)
1. transverse- a wave in which particles of medium move back and forth in a direction
perpendicular to the direction where the wave moves.
-moves vertically up and down
Ex. Waves from rope, WATER WAVES, LIGHT WAVES, ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES
Parts of Transverse Wave
Equilibrium position- undisturbed position (rest position)
Crest- highest point of wave
Trough- lowest point
2. longitudinal wave- a wave in which particles of a medium move in a direction

parallel to the direction where the wave moves.
- particle motion is PARALLEL to wave motion
-particles move back and forth motion (oscillation)
Ex. SOUND WAVE,
Parts of a longitudinal wave

Compression- an area where particles are compacted
- region where coils are close together in a small amount of space
-point in a medium in which a longitudinal wave is travelling that has the
maximum density
Rarefaction- particles are far from each other

- region where coil is spread apart thus maximizing the distance between
coils
-point in a medium in which a longitudinal wave is travelling that has the
minimum density
 Use of slinky- transverse or longitudinal wave
period- is the time taken to generate one complete wave

- unit is second
- also the time taken for the crest or any given point on the wave to move a
distance of 1 wavelength
wave speed- distance a wave moves in a given amount of time
wave speed= frequency x wavelength
- measured in m/s
WAVE PROPERTIES:
Wavelength- distance between 2 successive identical parts of the wave, it can be

between 2
consecutive crest or trough
- IN LONGITUDINAL WAVE. – wavelength is the distance between 2 consecutive
compressions or 2 consecutive rarefactions or 2 consecutive refractions
- wavelength- denoted by symbol lambda, and measured in meters
 In visible light, wavelength determines its color

 Measurement of wavelength OF ELECTROMAGNETIC in meters in
descending order:
-------- Radio- microwaves- infrared- visible light- ultraviolet- xray- gamma rays
Amplitude- greatest displacement of the particles of a medium from the rest position
- measure of the energy the wave carries
- In a TRANSVERSE wave, max. height/ distance from equilibrium position to a
crest or from equilibrium(rest) position to a trough
- In LONGITUDINAL – it is the measure of how compressed is the medium. The
more compressed the medium, the greater the amplitude
for example: a strong wind in the beach creates larger water than gentle breeze
frequency- number of waves passing through a given point in a certain amount of time
(1 second)
- measured in units called hertz (Hz), after German phycisist Heinrich Hertz who
discovered radiowaves
- on wave per second is equal to 1 Hz
- the frequency of a sound wave determines its pitch. High pitch sound- high
frequency,
20-20,000 Hz – frequency audible to human
Up to 45,000 Hz – for dogs

WAVES

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WAVES

Wave- a kind of disturbance or vibration in a certain space

Vibration- repeated motion produced by back-and-forth or up and down movement of

Classifications of waves according to WHAT they move through

2. longitudinal wave- a wave in which particles of a medium move in a direction

Parts of a longitudinal wave

Rarefaction- particles are far from each other

 Use of slinky- transverse or longitudinal wave

period- is the time taken to generate one complete wave

Wavelength- distance between 2 successive identical parts of the wave, it can be

 In visible light, wavelength determines its color

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