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Wave Motion: PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 2019-2020

This document defines and describes characteristics of waves. It begins by defining a wave as a repeated disturbance that transports energy but not matter. There are two main types of waves: mechanical and electromagnetic. Waves can propagate transversely or longitudinally. Key characteristics of waves include amplitude, wavelength, period, frequency, and the relationship between wave speed, wavelength, and frequency.

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Savio Khoury
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
50 views

Wave Motion: PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 2019-2020

This document defines and describes characteristics of waves. It begins by defining a wave as a repeated disturbance that transports energy but not matter. There are two main types of waves: mechanical and electromagnetic. Waves can propagate transversely or longitudinally. Key characteristics of waves include amplitude, wavelength, period, frequency, and the relationship between wave speed, wavelength, and frequency.

Uploaded by

Savio Khoury
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 16

Wave motion

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring


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Outline
 Wave: Definition

 Propagation of a disturbance

 Characteristics of a wave

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring


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What is a wave?
 A wave is a repeated disturbance. A traveling wave transports
energy but not matter.

A wave at a ball game propagates


quickly, but the individual people making up the wave
simply stand and sit in one place.

 Waves are of two main types: Mechanical waves (like sound


waves and water waves, etc) and electromagnetic waves (like
visible light, radio and television waves, etc).

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring


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16.1 Propagation of a disturbance
Transverse waves Longitudinal waves

In transverse waves, the displacement In longitudinal waves, the


of individual particles is perpendicular displacement of individual particles is
to the direction of propagation. parallel to the direction of propagation.

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring


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16.1 Propagation of a disturbance

 Examples of transverse, longitudinal and mixed waves

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring


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16.2 Traveling wave: Characteristics
 Amplitude, wavelength

The wave height relative to the


undisturbed string, is the wave’s
amplitude. It is the maximum height
of the crest or the maximum depth of
a trough.

The distance between two successive


crests is the wavelength, λ. The
wavelength is also equal to the
distance between any two successive
identical points on the wave.

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring


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16.2 Traveling wave: Characteristics
 Period and frequency

The period of a wave, T, is the time


required for one wavelength λ to pass
at a given point.
T is the same as the period of the
simple harmonic oscillation of one
point of the medium.
The frequency, f, is the inverse of the
period: f=1/T.

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring


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16.2 Traveling wave: Characteristics
 Relation between speed, wavelength, and frequency

The wave travels a distance equals to


the wavelength λ during a time
interval T.
Therefore, the wave speed is given
by:
x 
v  f
t T

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring


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