Waves
Energy can be
transferred by either
1) Matter(mass)
ex) baseball,
electron
Waves
Energy is transferred
by
2) Waves
ex) sound, radio,
water, light
Waves
Waves transfer energy not mass.
Notice that all the matter is in the same
location after the wave has passed.
Wave Types
1.
Mechanical Waves
These waves need a
medium. The material that
the wave travels through is
called the medium.
1. Mechanical Waves
ex) water waves travel through _______
sound waves travel through ______
slinky waves travel through _________
2. Electromagnetic Waves
EM waves do
not need a
medium.
Ex) radio, TV,
microwave,
X-rays, visible
light
4 types of Mechanical Waves
1. Transverse Waves
2. Longitudinal Waves
3. Torsional Waves - twist
4. Surface Waves – water at the ocean
Transverse Waves
1. Transverse Waves
The particles in the medium vibrate
perpendicular to the direction the waves
are traveling.
Transverse Waves
Examples – water waves, slinky waves,
Wave characteristics –
1) wavelength = λ
the horizontal distance between
corresponding points on consecutive
waves. λ
HITT- What two sets of points are
in one wavelength apart ?
B G
C H
A D F
E
Ans - A and F C and H B and G
B G
C H
A D F
E
Transverse Waves
Wave characteristics –
2) amplitude = A
the distance from the rest position to
the maximum displacement.
A
Transverse Waves
Examples – water waves, slinky waves,
Wave characteristics –
3) crest = maximum displacement
UP
4) trough = maximum displacement
DOWN
Amplitude vs Energy
Q - With a slinky, how do you make
a pulse with a larger amplitude?
Amplitude vs Energy
A – Add more energy by swinging
the rope harder. The amplitude is
directly proportional to the energy.
Moving up or down?
You must be able to determine whether
the molecules in a medium are moving
up or down as the pulse - crest or
trough - moves forward.
A
In Phase
Two points in a wave are said to be in
phase if they have
a) the same amplitude and
b) are moving in the same
direction(either both up or both down)
HITT - What two sets of points are in phase ?
B G
C F
A D H
E
Ans – B and F D and H
B G
C F
A D H
E
Mechanical Waves
2. Longitudinal Waves
The particles move parallel to the
direction the waves are traveling.
Longitudinal Waves
Compressions – regions where the
medium is more dense – the material
is packed tightly.
Rarefactions – regions where the
medium is less dense – the material
is spread out.
Describing Waves
Frequency, f
is the number of wavelengths that
pass a given point each second.
Unit = Hertz, Hz or cycles per second or
waves per second or 1/s or s-1
The period, Τ, is the time for one
wave to pass. Units - seconds
The period is the inverse of
frequency.
Τ = 1/f or f = 1/ Τ
Usually the frequency is determined
by the source, the person shaking the
slinky.
HITT Practice f and T
HITT – The periodic wave has 20 crests
pass by in 5 seconds.
The frequency is a) 20 hz b) 5 hz c) 4 hz
d) 0.25 hz
The period is a) 20 s b) 5 s c) 4 s
d) 0.25 s
The velocity of pulses
The velocity of waves is also
called the speed of propagation.
V = d/t
d is the distance the pulse
travels. t is the time.
The velocity of pulses
A second method to determine the
speed of the pulse.
V=fλ
Units 1/s x m or m/s
Speed of waves
The speed depends upon the
medium in which the wave travels
regardless of the frequency or
wavelength or amplitude.
If different frequencies had different
speeds, music would become
jumbled as it traveled from the
source.
Relationship between f, λ, and v
1st – v does not affect f or λ
2nd – As f increases, λ decreases
this is an inverse relationship.
Or as f decreases, λ increases.
More pulses per second means the
waves will be closer together.
Reflection of Pulses
What happens when a pulse hits a new
medium? The new medium could
be a new spring, a wall, etc.
The new medium can be more dense –
like a wall or less dense like air. This
determines whether the reflection will
be inverted or erect.
Reflection of Pulses
Remember the new medium will have a
wave with a different velocity and a
different wavelength but the same
frequency.
The reflected pulse will be erect if the
new medium is less dense.
The reflected pulse will be inverted if
the new medium is more dense.
The transmitted pulse is always erect.
Reflected – Transmitted
What happens at the boundary
between media?
When the pulse strikes the boundary,
some of the energy is reflected as a
reflected pulse and some continues
on as a transmitted pulse.
Reflected – Transmitted
What happens at the boundary
between media?
The amount of reflected pulse
depends upon the difference between
their properties. If the two mediums
are identical, then all the energy is
transmitted.
Q - Is the new frequency different?
A – No, since the pulse was produced
by the same source, it must have the
same frequency. But it is a new
medium, therefore a new velocity and
so a new wavelength.
Entering a new medium
If v decreases, the λ decreases.
As the waves slow down, the crests
get closer together.
Entering a new medium
If v increases, the λ increases.
As the waves speed up, the
crests get farther apart.
Since v = fλ for both mediums and
the frequencies are the same
V = f λ and v = f λ
1 1 1 2 2 2
and since f1 = f2
Then v /λ = v /λ
1 1 2 2
Interference
What happens to
pulses when
they hit each
other?
Waves are not
changed by
passing through
each other.
Interference
When we
superimpose
one pulse on top
of another it is
called
superposition.
Interference
Constructive
interference
a crest meets
a crest or
Interference
Constructive
interference
a trough
meets a
trough
Interference
Destructive
interference
a crest meets
a trough
