WAVES
• A wave is a disturbance that transfers, or carries energy from one place to another.
• Classified by what they move through
• For mechanical Waves energy is transferred by vibrations of a medium (medium = matter, stuff)ex/ ocean waves move through water
• For electromagnetic waves (EM Waves)energy moves through disturbances in the electromagnetic field.
WAVE STRUCTURE
• Wavelength – the distance
between the same point
in two waves.
• Amplitude – the distance
from the middle of the
wave to the maximum crest
or trough.
• Frequency – The number of
waves that pass a specific
point each second.
MECHANICAL WAVES
• Mechanical waves are
waves that require a
medium to transmit their
energy.
• Travel through & gradually
lose energy to that medium.
Examples:
• water, sound, rope, & spring
waves
Mechanical wave media:
• water, air, rope, spring
MECHANICAL WAVES
Longitudinal
transverse
surface
TRANSVERSE WAVES
• Examples:
• Guitar strings
• Electromagnetic waves(ex: light)
• Particle vibration is perpendicular
(sideways or up and down) to the
direction of the motion of the wave
LONGITUDINAL WAVES
• Also called compression or pressure wave.
• Instead if crests and troughs, there are alternating
areas of compression and rarefaction.
• Examples:
• Sound waves
• P-type earthquake waves
Particle vibration is parallel to the direction
of the motion of the wave (back and forth).
Rarefraction (expansion)
Compression
SURFACE WAVES
• Particle vibration is in a circular
motion.
• Occur at the boundary between
two different mediums.
• Particles move more the closer
they are to the surface.
• Example:
• Ocean waves
AMPLITUDE• Distance between the “middle & crest” or
“middle & trough”
• The amplitude is directly related to the “power”
of a wave
• Does not affect the velocity of a wave
• Determines strength (earthquake), loudness
(sound), or brightness (electromagnetic wave)
WAVELENGTH
• Distance between any two repeating points on a wave
• crest-crest, trough-trough,rarefraction-rarefraction, compression-compression
WAVELENGTH
• For waves moving at the same speed, Shorter wavelengths have a higher frequency because the waves aren’t as long
WAVELENGTH
• Determines
• What colors we see.
• What sounds we hear (pitch). Shorter wavelengths are higher pitched.
Frequency ƒ
• The number of waves that pass a specific point
each second.
• measured in Hertz (Hz) = number of wavelengths
passing a spot in 1 second.
VELOCITY v• the rate (speed) at which
the wave travels.
• Wave speed depends on
medium.
• Mechanical waves
travel faster through
dense mediums.
• EM Waves are faster
through less dense
mediums (space)
Calculating wave velocity
1. What is the wavelength of a water wave if
its frequency is 4 Hz and its velocity is 12
m/s?
2. Calculate the velocity of a wave if the
frequency is 54 Hz and the wavelength is
25 m.
3. Calculate the velocity of a wave if the
frequency is 120 Hz and the wavelength is
65 m.
4. What is the wavelength of a water wave if
its frequency is 33 Hz and its velocity is 7
m/s?
5. What is the wavelength of a water wave if
its frequency is 7.5 Hz and the wave speed
is 53 m/s?
Wave reflectionReflection occurs when waves change
directions as a result of "bouncing off" a
surface like a mirror.
• Different temperatures of air allow
waves to travel at different speeds.
• This means that they cause refraction.
• Extreme differences in temperature (like
in the desert) can cause light waves to
bend and make mirages.
Wave diffractionA change in the direction of a wave as
it passes through an opening or around
an object in its path.
Wave interferenceTwo waves can interact with one
another, this interaction is called
interference.
Constructive Destructive
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