GENERAL WAVE PROPERTIES

• Waves are produced by disturbance/vibration in a

medium.
• Waves are called carriers of energy as they can
transfer energy but they do not transfer mass.
TYPES OF WAVES
➢ Transverse waves
➢ Longitudinal waves
TRANSVERSE WAVES:
Motion of particles of medium is perpendicular to the
direction of motion of wave
CREST(A) AMPLITUDE(C)

DIRECTION OF WAVE
VIBRATION OF PARTICLES

TROUGH(B)
WAVELENGTH(D)

Mean/Rest position: The undisturbed position of

particles or fields when they are not vibrating
Crest/Peak: Part of the wave above mean/rest
position, shown by (A) in fig. above
Trough: Part of the wave below mean/rest position,
shown by (B) in fig. above
Amplitude: Maximum height of wave above or below
mean position, shown by (C) in above fig.
Wavelength (λ): A wave consists of a complete crest and
a trough. Its length is called wavelength. It is measured by
measuring the distance between two consecutive crests or
troughs. It is measured in cm or m (SI unit), shown by (D)
in fig. above
Frequency (f): Number of waves propagated in one
second. Its unit is Hertz (Hz)
Time period/Period (T): Time of propagation of one
wave. It is measured in s
Time period and frequency are related by a formula
f = 1/T OR T = 1/f
Relation between speed, frequency and wavelength
V=fλ
Wave front: A surface containing points affected in the
same way by a wave at a given time
Examples of transverse waves include:
• Ripples on the surface of water
• Vibrations in a guitar string
• A Mexican wave in a sports stadium
• Electromagnetic waves – e.g. light waves,
microwaves, radio waves
• Seismic s-waves
LONGITUDINAL WAVES: Motion of particles of
medium is parallel to the direction of motion of wave
Compression: Part of the wave where particles of
medium are closer to each other and pressure is
relatively high
Rarefaction: Part of the wave where particles of
medium are apart and pressure is relatively low
Wavelength: Distance between two consecutive
compressions or rare factions
Examples of longitudinal waves include:
• Sound waves
• Ultrasound waves
• Seismic p-waves
 PROPERTIES OF WAVES
The Ripple Tank
A ripple tank is a transparent shallow tray of water with a light shining
down through it onto a white card below. The light allows you to see
the motion of the ripples created on the water's surface more easily.

Reflection:

• Angle of incidence i = angle of reflection r

• Wavelength remains unchanged
• Frequency remains unchanged
Motion Of Waves From Deep To Shallow Water And Refraction

Top View

Side View

From Deep to shallow water

• Wavelength decreases (speed decreases V = fλ or λ = V/f)
• Speed decreases (Friction with base is more effective)
• Frequency stays the same (Depends upon source)
Refraction
Refraction is the change in direction of a wave as it travels from one
medium to another as the speed changes. For instance, when light
travels from air to glass or water waves travel from deep to shallow
water, and vice versa.
Diffraction:
When waves pass through a gap, opening or edge, they bend or curve.
It is called diffraction.

• This bending is maximum when gap is equal to wavelength

• Diffraction decreases with increase in size of gap and increases
with increase in wavelength
• If wave length is much smaller than the gap, diffraction is less.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves with a wide range of

different properties and uses. These waves are produced because of
interaction/vibration of both electric and magnetic fields.
All electromagnetic waves:
• Are transverse waves;
• Can travel through a vacuum;
• Travel at exactly the same speed in a vacuum, the speed of light,
300,000,000 m/s.
 Like all waves, electromagnetic waves:
• Transfer energy from one place to another;
• Can be reflected;
• Can be refracted.
Differences
Each type of wave in the electromagnetic spectrum has different:
Wavelength and frequency.

Low High
frequency & frequency
High and low
Wavelength wavelength

Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet

Radio Micro Infra-red Visible light Ultra violet X-Rays Gama Rays
waves waves
Energy Least ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Highest
Frequency Least ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Highest
Wavelength Highest ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Least
Use Radio Cooking, Heat transfer, Seeing, Suntan, Medical Killing cancer
& Mobile night vision photography, detecting images of cells, sterilising
Terrest signals, equipment, optical fibre forged bones, medical
rial TV satellite Remote communication bank notes, security equipment,
signals com. & control, optical sterilizing check at killing bacteria
, TV fibre surgical air ports to prolong
Radar communication equipment shelf life of
fruit

• Dangers of EMR