WAVES

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF WAVES

WAVE: It is an energy carrying disturbance propagated through a medium or space by local progressive disturbance of the
medium but without the overall movement of the medium itself.

DISPLACEMENT – DISTANCE GRAPH

(a) Amplitude (A): It is the maximum displacement of any point (particles) in a wave from the rest position.
(b) Wavelength (λ): It is the distance between two successive crests or troughs OR It is the minimum distance in which a
wave tries to repeats itself.
(c) Frequency (f): It is the number of waves generated by a source in a second OR It is the number of waves passing a
point in a second.
(d) Speed (v): It is the distance travelled per unit time by a wave.
(e) Wave Front: These are points that are in phase (Peaks in a transverse wave and compressions in a longitudinal wave).

WAVE EQUATION

The speed, frequency and wavelength for any set of waves are linked by the equation.

v=fλ

Where v = speed (m/s)

F = frequency (Hz)
λ = wavelength (m)
DISPLACEMENT-TIME GRAPH

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 (a) Period (T): It is the time taken for one complete oscillation or one wavelength.

1 1
T= or f=
f T
Where f = frequency (Hz)
T = Period (s)

TYPES OF WAVES

The obvious distinction between waves is based on the way they travel. There are two types of waves namely transverse and
longitudinal.

(I) TRANSVERSE: Each point on the wave vibrates at right angles to the direction in which the wave is travelling e.g.
water waves, Electromagnetic waves (Radio, Infrared, Ultraviolet, Gamma, microwaves and x-rays), secondary
waves(s-waves).

(ii) LONGITUDINAL: Each point on the wave vibrates parallel to the direction of the wave. The points actually move
together (compression) and then further apart (rarefaction) e.g. Sound waves, primary waves (P- waves).

WAVE EFFECTS

(a) REFLECTION: When a vertical surface is put in the path of the wave, the wave is reflected from the surface at the
same angle as it strikes. The wavelengths are represented by straight lines. For the wave to be reflected must encounter
a medium of different density from the medium in which it is travelling.

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 (b) REFRACTION: It is the bending of a wavefront when it travels from one medium into another of different refractive
index. It is caused by a change of speed.
E.g., 1 A wave travelling in different depths of water at an angle (Rectangular Shape)

SOUND

Sources

Any vibrating object can be a source of sound e.g. vibrating guitar string, Vibrating tuning fork, Vibrating air inside a trumpet.

LONGITUDINAL NATURE OF SOUND WAVES

When a loudspeaker cone vibrates it moves forwards and backward very fast. This squashes and stretches the air in front. It
results in a series of compressions (squashes) and rarefactions (stretches) through air, and these are sound waves. The distance
between successive compressions or rarefactions is wavelength.

PROPAGATION

Sound waves being longitudinal in nature require a material medium (i.e., solid, liquid, gas) for it to travel. To demonstrate this,
place an electric bell in an airtight container. Remove the air using a vacuum pump and watch the bell. The clapper continues to
vibrate but sound heard by the listener diminishes. The bell is heard again when air is restored.

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AUDIBLE SOUND FREQUENCIES

The human ear is not capable of hearing sounds of all frequencies. Humans are sensitive to a limited range of sound frequencies
from 20 Hz to 20 000 Hz. Other animals like dogs can detect sound frequencies up to 50 000 Hz and bats up to 120 000 Hz.
Sounds above 20 000 Hz (audible range) are called ULTRASOUNDS OR ULTRASONIC SOUNDS. Bats use ultrasounds to locate
insects and other objects. They send out a series of ultrasounds pulses and use specialized shaped ears to pick the reflections. This
is called echo location.

APPLICATIONS (USES) OF ULTRASOUNDS

(i) CLEANING: Delicate machinery is immersed in a tank of liquid, where vibrations of high-powered ultrasounds are
used to dislodge (remove) dirt or grease.
(ii) ECHO SOUNDING/SONAR DEPTH SENSING: Ships use echo sounding to measure the depth of water beneath
them. Pulses of ultrasounds are sent downwards to the seabed. The time taken (t) for the echo reflection to return
is recorded. Knowing the speed of sound in water to be 1400 m/s the distance travelled by the sound wave can be
measured.

vt
S= 2
Where S = distance (m)
V = speed (m/s)
t
=¿ Time taken by the sound to the bottom only.
2

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 (iii) SCANNING: Echo sounding principle is used. The transmitter sends ultrasounds into the mother’s womb. It also
acts as a detector and picks up reflected pulses from the body. The pulses are processed by the computer which
puts an image on the screen.

NOISE POLLUTION: Noise is defined as sound of irregular frequency or simply unwanted sound. Too high levels cause
stress and disturb concentration.

MEASUREMENT OF SPEED OF SOUND IN AIR

(i) FLASH AND BANG METHOD: We assume light travels instantaneously. Record the time interval between the
arrival of the flash and bang (sound) produced by the gun at a known distance (s) from the observer.
s
V= t

Where V = speed (m/s)

S = distance (m)
t = time (s)

In order to eliminate the effect of any wind the speed (v) should be measured for sound travelling each way and then the average
taken.

(ii) CLAP-ECHO METHOD: Sound heard after reflection is called echo. Stand at a distance (s) from a reflecting surface
and clap two pieces of wood together in such a way that each clap made coincides with the echo of the previous
clap. Clap (N) number of times in a time t.
(iii)
2 sN
V= t

Sound travels a total distance of 2sN in a time t.

ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF SPEED OF SOUND

The speed of sound varies from one medium to another. Even in the same medium changes in temperature can also cause
variation in speed. Some examples are given in the following table.

Medium Speed (m/s)

Air(dry) at 0 °C 330

Air(dry) at 30 °C 350

Water(pure) at 0 °C 1400

concrete 5000

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As it can be seen sound travels faster through solids followed by liquids and lastly
gases.

REFLECTION OF SOUND WAVES

Sound waves are reflected well from hard flat surfaces such as walls, or cliffs and obey the laws of reflection just like light.
Reflected sound is called an echo.

FREQUENCY AND PITCH

Different frequencies sound different to the ear (same amplitudes). We hear high frequencies as high notes or high pitch. We hear
low frequencies as low notes or low pitch.

(a) Low frequency and Pitch (large wavelength) (b) high frequency and Pitch (short wavelength)

AMPLITUDE AND LOUDNESS

A loud note has large amplitude, and a soft note has small amplitude. If the amplitude of vibrations
increases, it result in sound wave & note to be heard louder since more energy has been used to produce it.

(a) Sound is louder with a large amplitude (b) Sound is soft with a small amplitude

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QUALITY (TIMBRE)

Each instrument is said to have typical sound quality i.e. same note on different instruments sounds different. The sound waves
produced by musical instruments can be regarded as a combination of different frequencies.

The strong one is called the fundamental (main) frequency and it determines the pitch. The other frequencies are called over tunes
or harmonics. The over tunes determine the quality of sound. When the fundamental frequency and over tunes are combined, they
produce the characteristic sound of the instrument.

Following figures shows notes of the same frequency (pitch) but different quality.

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EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE REFLECTIONS OF SOUND WAVES (ACOUSTICS) ON THE QUALITY OF
SOUND

A large empty hall with hard walls, floors and ceiling sounds echo. Sound is reflected from one surface to another so
on and so on and it may take several seconds for the wave energy to be absorbed so that sound dies away. The effect
is called REVERBERATION. If there is too much reverberation it is difficult to hear sound clearly.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
GAXULI & MIRA (Gamma, X-ray, Ultra-violet, Light, Infrared, Microwaves, Radio waves)

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PROPERTIES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
 They are all transverse waves

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 They obey the laws of reflection and refraction
 They are emitted and absorbed by matter
 They travel through a vacuum
 They travel at the speed of light C in a vacuum i.e. C =3⨯108 m/s
 They obey the wave equation v =fλ
 They transfer energy

WAVE SOURCE USES EFFECTS DETECTION

Nuclei of Radiotherapy, Radio Kill cells, Geiger-Müller
GAMMA atoms dating, Sterilizing pests Cause tube,
RAYS and weevils, Sterilizing cancer, Photographic
medical equipment & Radiation film,
Preserving food burns, Photo(solar) cell
Cause death

X- RAYS X- ray tube Radiography i.e. Take X- Same effect Photographic

ray pictures, as gamma film, Photo cell
Crystallography i.e. rays what
study structure of differs is the
crystals, Treat skin source.
disorders

ULTRA Very hot To verify forged bank Causes sun Fluorescent

VIOLET objects, notes and signatures, tan or sun chemicals and
Arcs and Treat skin disorders(kill burns, powders, Photo
sparks, bacteria), Washing Harmful to cell or solar cell
Mercury detergents have the
vapour, Uv fluorescent chemicals, eyes(retina),
lamps, Sun Lighting, Paints Causes skin
cancer

VISIBLE Sun, Very Essential for High Photographic

(LIGHT) hot objects, photosynthesis, intensity film, Photo cell
Lamps Communication i.e. can damage Eyes
lasers, Chemistry flame the eyes
tests
INFRA RED Sun, Hot Photography through fog Heating Special
objects, and haze or at night, TV photographic
Infrared and radio remote film,
lamps, Fires controllers, Cooking, Thermometers,

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 Security lamps Skin
Microwave Cooking, International Kill cells, Receivers(Dish
MICROWAVES ovens, television relay networks, Cause cancer aerials), Mobile
Mobile Communication via mobile phones,
phones, phones, RADAR detection Communication
Communicati of ships and planes, Police satellites
on satellites, speed traps
Transmitters
(Dish aerials)

RADIO Transmitters, UHF (Ultra High ? Receivers

WAVES Stars are Frequency): used for local (Radios)
natural radio and broadcasting TV
sources programs, VHF (Very High
Frequency): use for local
Police and Ambulance
messages, TV, local radio
& MW (Medium Waves)
and LW (long Waves): This
are real radio broadcasting
waves. They are used to
transmit radio waves for
long distances, because of
their long wavelength they
can easily bend around the
curve of the earth and hills

Note* All electromagnetic waves obey the equation C= fλ

Where C is the speed of light = 3⨯ 108 m/s
F is frequency in Hertz
λ is wavelength in meters

EXERCISE

1)

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 (a) Fig.1.1 shows the graph of the variation of the displacement of a wave with distance along
the wave at a particular time.

Fig.1.1

State the values for

(i) The amplitude of the wave ………………………………...

(ii) The wavelength of the wave ……………………………… [2]

(b) Fig.1.2 shows the graph of the variation of the displacement of the same wave with time at a
particular point along the wave.

Fig.1.2
State values for
(i) The time for one complete cycle (Period T) ………………………

(ii) The frequency f of the wave …………………….…...…………… [2]

2) Fig. 2.1 shows lines that represent the peaks of water waves produced when a stone is dropped into a
pond.

(a) What type of wave is the water wave formed in the pond?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….... [1]

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 (b) The distance between point S and point T is 1.0 m.
(i) Calculate the wavelength of the waves.

Wavelength = ………………………...…. [1]

(ii) The wave peak at point S takes 2 seconds to reach point T.

Determine the speed of the waves.

Speed = ………...……… [2]

(c) Bats use ultrasound of frequency 70 000 Hz to find their path. Sound travels at a speed of 330 m/s in
air.

(i) Calculate the wavelength of the sound waves.

Wavelength =……………….………… [2]

(ii) State two other uses of ultrasound

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………...………… [2]

3) Fig.3.1 shows wavefronts moving from deep water to shallow water.

Fig. 3.1

(i) Complete Fig. 3.1 to show the wavefronts and the direction of travel of the waves in a shallow water.
(ii) Explain what is meant by a wavefront.

..................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................. [1]

(iii) State whether the following quantities will increase, decrease or stay the same when the wavefronts
enter shallow water.
Speed.…..……………………………………………………………………………………...……...…
Wavelength……………………………………………………………………………………..….……
Frequency……………………………………………………………………………..................….. [3]

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