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Properties of Waves

1. The document defines key terms related to wave properties, including amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period, speed, phase, and polarization. 2. It distinguishes between transverse waves, where the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of travel, and longitudinal waves, where oscillation is parallel. Sound waves are given as an example of longitudinal waves. 3. The relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength is defined by the wave equation: speed = wavelength x frequency.

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Mini Bratz
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209 views8 pages

Properties of Waves

1. The document defines key terms related to wave properties, including amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period, speed, phase, and polarization. 2. It distinguishes between transverse waves, where the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of travel, and longitudinal waves, where oscillation is parallel. Sound waves are given as an example of longitudinal waves. 3. The relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength is defined by the wave equation: speed = wavelength x frequency.

Uploaded by

Mini Bratz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Properties of Waves

Students should be able to:


2.1. use the following terms:displacement, amplitude, period, frequency, velocity in
relation to the behaviour of waves;
Explanation through the use of graphs and sketches.
2.2. differentiate between transverse and longitudinal mechanical waves;
Explanation of the movement of particles in the medium of transmission and the
energy of the wave
2.3 represent transverse and longitudinal waves graphically;
2.4. explain “polarisation”; Give examples of polarised waves
2.5 use the equation v = fλ to solve problems involving wave motion;
2.6. use the relationship intensity is proportional to (amplitude)2 I α A2 for a wave;
2.7 use the terms phase, and phase difference with reference to behaviour of waves

Waves

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/wave-on-a-string/latest/wave-on-a-string_en.
html

A pulse is a single disturbance that carries energy away from the source
A wavetrain or wave is a continuous production of pulses.
A progressive wave carries energy away from the source.

Types of Progressive Waves


https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/waves-intro/latest/waves-intro_en.html
Transverse wave
A wave in which the direction of oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of travel or
propagation.
Eg. water waves, light wave, electromagnetic waves

Longitudinal Wave
A wave in which the direction of oscillation is parallel to the direction of travel.
Eg sound wave.
Some terms to understand

Crest – Peak of the transverse wave


Trough – the lowest point or depression of the transverse wave
Compression – Particles are closest for a longitudinal wave
Rarefaction – Particles are the furthest apart for a longitudinal wave
Oscillate – The direction of the to and fro motion
Travel or propagation – The direction in which the wave moves (from start to finish)

Waves on a slinky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Anh9HthWgQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT4KAc0Ag1E

Sound waves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uOjWNvRs1s
Wave Properties
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVsdXKO9xlk

Amplitude, a, A.
This is the maximum displacement from the mean or undisturbed position
Unit : metre

Period, T.
The time for one wave to occur
Unit: second

Frequency, f.
The number of waves that occur in one second.
Unit: Hertz, Hz

Wavelength, λ (lambda)
The distance travelled by one wave.
The distance between successive crest or trough or compressions or rarefactions.
Unit: metre

Speed, v.
The distance travelled by the wave per unit time
Unit: ms-1
Relationship between Period (T) and frequency (f)
T = 1/f
f = 1/T

Other unit for frequency: 1/s =s-1


Hz = s-1

The Wave Equation

speed = distance / time

For 1 wave :
Distance = wavelength
Time = period

Therefore
speed = wavelength/period
v = λ/T
= λ x 1 but 1/T = f
T
v=λxf
v = fλ (wave equation)

Units:
f - Hertz (Hz)
Hz = s-1
v = fλ
ms-1 = s-1. m
= ms-1

Phase
Phase is a measure of the timing relationship of a wave expressed in radians
Phase difference is the timing between two waves or two different points on the same
wave expressed in radians.

When the phase is represented in terms of λ if is called the path difference


The path difference between the two varying waves is the difference in the distance
they covered.
In phase implies that the separation is zero or a whole wavelength ie 0, 1, 2 , 3 etc
wavelength of separation.

All other separations are out of phase.


What is the phase difference between the following in terms of πradians
AB - 1 wavelength = 2π
AC - 1 ½ wavelength =3π
AD - 2 ½ wavelength = 5π
Polarisation
When a wave source is polarised it only allows one dimension of the wave to pass
through.
In the diagram below the light source oscillates in all directions but the polarizer is only
in the vertical direction. Hence only the light wave in the vertical direction passes
through.

A wave on a string is already polarised as it is oscillating in one direction only.

Polarisation is important as it blocks some of the waves for example in polarised lens
about 50% of the light rays are blocked reducing the impact on the eye

A polarised lens of a camera will block reflected rays to produce a sharper picture
Wave Intensity
The intensity I of a wave is given as the Energy carried by the wave per unit area per
unit time
I= E
At
Unit: Jm-2s-1

It can also be shown that I is proportional to the square of amplitude of the wave.
(See page 122 for proof)
I α A2
Graphical Representation of a Wave

Always draw at least two waves


Sketch a wave of amplitude 5cm and wavelength 2cm

Sketch a wave amplitude 3cm and period 4s

Sketch a wave of amplitude 4cm and a frequency of 2Hz for the first 2 seconds.

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