The Nature of Waves

Waves carry energy from one place to another. They can do this by either vibrating up and
down or back and forth with no net movement of the medium particles.

Mechanical Waves need a medium to travel. They travel faster in solids than in
liquids or gases. They cannot travel in a vacuum. E.g. sound, water waves.

Electromagnetic Waves can travel through a vacuum (they do not need a medium)
and they travel fastest in a vacuum, slowing down in gases, liquids and solids respectively.
E.g., light

Transverse Waves

A transverse wave always moves up and down. An

example of transvers waves are waves the waves you
see in water. Seismic S-waves are also transverse.
Another example of this kind of wave is ripples on
the surface of water.
Definition:
A transverse wave is a wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicularly
(90o) to its direction of motion.

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Longitudinal Wave

A longitudinal wave is a wave which vibrates back and

forth. An example of a longitudinal wave is sound or
seismic P-waves.
Definition of a longitudinal waves:
A longitudinal waves is a wave in which the particles of
the medium vibrate parallel to its direction of motion.

Describing Waves
When an incident wave hits a boundary it can be:

 Reflected – travels back in the same medium

 Refracted – changes speed (and usually also direction)
 Dispersed – white light splits up into the 7 colours of the visible spectrum
 Diffracted – the spreading of a wavefront when it passes through a gap

In order to understand waves better, we need to talk

about 2 very important measurements: wavelength
and amplitude. But before that, we need to learn
what crests and troughs are. Crests are the upper
parts of the wave while troughs are the lower parts.
A wavefront is a line (or curve) joining successive
crests.

Wavelength (symbol: λ) is the distance between 2 successive crests or troughs

(transverse) or between 2 successive compressions or rarefactions (longitudinal). Note that:
1 oscillation is 1 complete wave.
On the diagram below, draw 3 different ways of how one can find the λ (wavelength) of this
wave.

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Amplitude (symbol: a) is the maximum disturbance or displacement of the medium
from rest position (equilibrium). The larger the amplitude of a wave is, the more energy the
wave has!
Draw on the diagram below all the amplitudes you can find:

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Note: Different kinds of waves travel a different speeds. In order to know at what speed a
particular wave is moving, all you need to do is us the equation:
distance
velocity=
time
s
v=
t

Exercise 1:
Using a ruler, find out the values of λ and a of the following waves.
1. Wavelength: ___________ Amplitude: ___________

2. Wavelength: ___________
Amplitude:
___________

3. Wavelength: ___________ Amplitude: ___________

4. Wavelength: ___________ Amplitude: ___________

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Frequency
Frequency (symbol: f) is the number of waves that
pass through a point every second. The units of
frequency are hertz (Hz).

Let us imagen that we have 2 waves travelling at the same speed. Of these 2 waves (A and
B) which waves has the higher frequency? Answer: _____________.
Wave A: Wave B:

Wave A has a __________ wavelength, and therefore ________ waves pass through a point
in a second. On the other hand, wave B has a __________ wavelength, and therefore
_________ waves pass through a point every second.

Periodic Time (symbol: T) is the time taken for 1 wave to pass through any particular point.

The Wave Equation

We know that frequency is the number of waves per second. We also know that periodic
time is the number of seconds per wave. Knowing this, we can assume that:

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 1
Frequency=
Periodic Time
1
f=
T
Example:
Calculate the periodic time of a radio wave of a frequency of 89.7MHz.

s 1
Knowing that v= , and also know that f = , we can do this.
t T
I can replace distance s, with wavelength λ because they are both distances. Therefore,
λ
v=
t
I arrange the equation in this manner,
1
v= × λ
t
1
We know that F= , and therefore,
T
v=f × λ

Example:

1. A sound wave travelling in air at 330m/s has a wavelength of 0.5m. Calculate it

frequency.

2. We know that 89.7 Bay radio station has a frequency of 89.7MHz. If radio waves
travel at the speed of light, that of 300 000 000m/s, calculate the wavelength that is
transmitted by 89.7 Bay.
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Worksheet – You have the answers! Can you work out the working?