Chapter 1: Waves

1.1 Understanding Waves

Motion of Waves
1 An oscillating or vibrating motion in
which a point or body moves back and
forth along a line about a fixed central
point produces waves.

Motion of Waves
2. Examples of waves:
(a) Light waves are produced as a
result of vibrations of electrons in
an atom.

Motion of Waves
2. Examples of waves:
(b)Sound waves are produced by
vibrating mechanical bodies such as
guitar strings or a tuning fork.

Motion of Waves
2. Examples of waves:
(c) Water waves are produced by
disturbance (or vibration) on a still
water surface.

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

1.When a wave travels through a

medium, the particles of the
medium vibrate about their
equilibrium positions.

Direction of
waves

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

2.However, the particles of the

medium do not travel in the
direction of the wave.

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

3 A wave transfers energy and

the momentum from the source of
the wave (the oscillating or
vibrating system) to the
surroundings.

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

Activity 1.1:To demonstrate that waves transfer

energy without transferring matter

Apparatus:
Radio, candle and matches.

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

Activity 1.1: To demonstrate that waves

transfer energy without transferring
matter
Procedure
1. A candle is placed about 10 cm from
the speaker of a radio.

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

Procedure
2. The candle is lit and the movements of
its flame is observed.

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

Procedure
3. Then, the radio is turned on and the
volume of the sound is gradually
increased until a change in the
movement of the flame becomes
noticeable.

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

Discussion

1. The flame vibrates when the radio is

turned on.

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

Discussion

2. This observation shows that the

propagation of the sound waves from
the vibration of the cone of the
speaker transfers energy (or
momentum) to the flame and causes
it to vibrate.

Propagation (Traveling) of
Waves

Conclusion
Waves transfer energy from a
vibrating system without
transferring matter.

Wavefronts

1. A wave front is a line or plane

on which the vibrations of every
points on it are in phase and are at
the same distance from the source
of the wave.
Same
Phase

Wavefronts

2 . Points in a wave are in phase if

they vibrate in the same direction
with the same displacement.

Same
displacement

Plane Wave fronts

1 . Figure 1.3 shows the production
of plane water waves when a wooden
bar vibrates vertically at a constant
frequency on the surface of the
water.

Plane Wave fronts

2. Lines PQ, RS, TU and VW are
straight lines along the respective
crests of the waves. These lines are
called wave fronts.

Circular Wave fronts

1. When we use a fingertip to touch
the surface of water repeatedly,
circular wave fronts are produced as
shown in Figure 1.4.

Types of Waves
There are two types of waves.
(a) Transverse wave
(b) Longitudinal wave

Transverse Waves

1. A transverse wave is a wave in

which the vibration of particles in
the medium is at right angle
(perpendicular) to the direction of
propagation of the wave.

Transverse Waves

2. A model of a transverse wave

can be produced by a slinky spring
as shown in Figure 1.6.

Transverse Waves

3. Examples of transverse waves

are water waves and light
waves.

Longitudinal Waves
1. A longitudinal wave is a wave
in which the vibration of particles in
the medium is parallel to the
direction of propagation of the wave.

Longitudinal Waves
2. When the slinky spring is
vibrated back and forth along the
direction of propagation of the wave
at a fixed rate, a longitudinal wave is
produced as shown in Figure 1.8.

Longitudinal Waves
3 . Example of longitudinal waves is
sound waves.

Amplitude, Period and Frequency of a

Wave
1 . The amplitude, A, of a vibrating system is
maximum displacement from its equilibrium
position. It is a measure of height of the wave
crest or depth of the wave trough.

Amplitude

Amplitude, Period and Frequency of a

Wave
2 . In Figures 1.9 (a) and (b), the distance OQ is
the amplitude, where O is the equilibrium
position of the vibrating system.

Amplitude

Amplitude, Period and Frequency of a

Wave
3 . The period, T, of a vibrating system is the
time taken to complete an oscillation.

Period

Amplitude, Period and Frequency of a

Wave
4. In the two vibrating (oscillating) systems show
in Figure 1.9, a complete oscillation are:

(a) from P Q P or Q P Q,

(b)
from OPQO or
OQPO

Amplitude, Period and Frequency of a

Wave
5. If a vibrating system makes n
complete oscillations in a time of t
seconds, the period of oscillation, T
t
of the system is
second
n

The SI unit of period is second.

Amplitude, Period and

Frequency of a Wave
6 The frequency, f, is the number of
complete oscillations made by a vibrating
system in one second.

The unit of frequency is hertz (Hz) or

s-1.

Amplitude, Period and

Frequency of a Wave
7 From the formulae of T and f, the relationship
between period, T and frequency, f is:

T is inversely proportional to f and vice versa.

Amplitude, Period and

Frequency of a Wave
Example 1:
In an experiment, Aziz observes that a simple
pendulum completes 30 oscillations in 48.0
seconds. What is
(a) the period of oscillation?
(b) the frequency of oscillation?

Amplitude, Period and

Frequency of a Wave
Example 1:
Solution
(a)
period, T

time taken
number of completed oscllation

48.0

1.6 s
30

Amplitude, Period and

Frequency of a Wave
Example 1:
Solution

(b)

1
1
frequency, f
0.625 Hz
T 1 .6

Displacement-time Graph of a
Wave
1. The sinusoidal graph in Figure
1.10 is a graph of displacement, s
against time, t of a load on a spring.

Displacement-time Graph of a
Wave
2 From the graph of s against t in Figure 1.10,
the following information is obtained.
(a) Amplitude, A = a cm
(b) Period of oscillation, T is the time between
points:
(i) O and F, (ii) C and G or (iii) P and Q.

Displacement-time Graph of a
Wave
Example 2:
Figure 1.11 shows the displacement-time graph of
the oscillation of a mass on a spring.

Figure 1.11

Displacement-time Graph of a
Wave

Example 2:
From the graph,
(a) state the amplitude,
(b) calculate the period of the oscillation,
(c) calculate the frequency of the oscillation.

Displacement-time Graph of a
Wave
Example 2:
Solution

(a) Amplitude, A = 5 cm

 Example 2:
Solution

(b) Period of oscillation, T = 0.04 s

 Example 2:
Solution
(c) Frequency of oscillation,
1
1
f
25 Hz
T 0.04

Displacement-distance Graph
of a Wave
1. Figures 1.12 (a) and (b) show the
propagation of a water wave and a
sound wave.

Displacement-distance Graph
of a Wave
R: Rarefaction
C:Compressio
n

Displacement-distance Graph
of a Wave
2. The displacement, s of each particle of the
medium at different distances can be shown in a
displacement-distance graph as shown in Figure
1.12 (c).

Displacement-distance Graph
of a Wave
3. The wavelength, , is the distance between
successive points of the same phase in a
wave.

Displacement-distance Graph
of a Wave
For example:
(a)
the distance between two successive crests
or two successive troughs in a water wave,

Displacement-distance Graph
of a Wave
(b) the distance between two successive
compressions or two successive rarefactions in a
sound wave.
The SI unit of wavelength, , is metre (m).

Displacement-distance Graph
of a Wave
Example 3:
Figure 1.13 shows a displacement-distance
graph of a wave.
Figure 1.13

Find

(a)

(b)

the amplitude,
the wavelength of the wave.

Displacement-distance Graph
of a Wave
Example 3:
Solution

(a) Amplitude, A = 4 cm

Displacement-distance Graph
of a Wave
Example 3:
Solution

(b)

Wavelength,

=12 cm

Relationship between Speed (v),

wavelength, and Frequency (f)
The relationship between speed,
wavelength and frequency can be
obtained by relating the SI unit of the
quantities.

v f

Relationship between Speed (v),

wavelength, and Frequency (f)
Example 4:
A wave of frequency 120 Hz has a
wavelength of 5.0 m. What is the
speed of the wave?

Relationship between Speed (v),

wavelength, and Frequency (f)
Example 4:
A wave of frequency 120 Hz has a
wavelength of 5.0 m. What is the
speed of the wave?
Solution
f = 120 Hz and =5.0m
Speed of wave,
v=f
= 120 x 5
= 600 m s-1

Relationship between Speed (v),

wavelength, and Frequency (f)
Example 5:
The displacement-distance graph in
Figure 1.14 shows the motion of a
transverse wave. The source of the
wave produces 10 complete waves in
one second.
Figure 1.14

Relationship between Speed (v),

wavelength, and Frequency (f)

Example 5:
Calculate

(a) the amplitude,

(b) the wavelength, and

(c) the speed of the wave.

Relationship between Speed

(v), wavelength, and
Frequency (f)
Example 5:
Solution
(a) Amplitude, A = 6 cm

Relationship between Speed

(v), wavelength, and
Frequency (f)
Example 5:
Solution

(b) Wavelength,

1o

2o

20 cm

Relationship between Speed

(v), wavelength, and
Frequency (f)

Example 5:
Solution

(c) Frequency, f = 10 Hz, = 20

cm

Speed, v = f
=10x20

= 200 cm s-1