Unit 1 lesson 2

Wave motion
The types of the waves [the ability of propagate]
Points Mechanical waves Electromagnetic waves
Medium They need a medium to travel They don't need a medium

Travelling They don't travel through They travel through space

through space vacuum (space)
Speed low speed High speed 3x 108 m/s
Or 300,000 km/s
Types 1. Transverse waves They are all transverse waves.
2. Longitudinal wave
Ex.: water wave & Sound wave 1. Light waves
2.radio waves: that used in radars

1) We see lightning before hearing the thunder.

Because the light is an electromagnetic wave, which has higher speed than mechanical waves [sound]
2) We can't hear the sound of solar explosions occurring on the sun,
but we can see the light of it.
Because sound is mechanical wave which needs medium to travel through, while the light is electromagnetic wave which
can travel through vacuum.
Concepts related to wave motion:
1. The wave length
P.O.C. wave length (λ) of transverse wave length (λ) of longitudinal
waves waves
The distance between the the distance between the centers
Definition centers of two successive crests of two successive compressions or
or troughs. rarefactions

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The unit of wave length is the meter (m)
Millimeter (mm) = 1 x 10-3 meter
Micrometer = 1 x 10-6 meter
Nanometer = 1 x 10-9 meter

2. Amplitude: the unit is m / cm

The maximum displacement of medium particles away from rest position.

3. Wave velocity:
D
The distance covered by the wave in 1 second. (m)

V (m/s) time (s)

Velocity =

The measuring unit of wave velocity is m/s

The velocity of sound is constant for the medium. Sound travels with different
velocities in different media.
Sound speeds in different media
In air In water In wood
Velocity of sound 340 m/s 1500 m/s 1850 m/s

Velocity of sound in air < in water < in wood

4. Frequency
no.
The no. of complete waves in a second.
Of waves
F (Hz) time (s)

The law of wave propagation

Wave velocity = Frequency x wavelength V
V (m/s) = F (Hz) x λ (m) F λ

A solved exercise
Calculate the wavelength in meter for a visible light wave of frequency 6 x 10 8
Megahertz & velocity 3 x 108 m/s.
Frequency = 6 x 108 x 106 = 6 x1014 Hz
λ =V ÷ F = (3 x 108) ÷ (6 x1014) = 0.5 x 10-6 meter.
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 Exercises
Q1: Write the scientific term:
1. A type of waves that can propagate through space. (---------------------)
2. The measuring unit of wave velocity. (---------------------)
3. The distance between two successive crests or troughs. (---------------------)
4. The waves that need materialistic medium in order to propagate.
. (---------------------)
5. The measuring unit of wavelength. (---------------------)
6. The movement resulting from the vibration of the medium particles at a
certain moment in a specific direction. (---------------------)
7. The maximum displacement achieved by the particles of the medium away
from their points of rest. (---------------------)
8. The distance between centers of 2 consecutive compressions or rarefactions.
(---------------------)
9. The distance covered by wave in unit time. (---------------------)
10. The relation between wave velocity, frequency and wavelength.
(--------------------------)
Q2: Give reason for:
1. We see lightning before hearing thunder.
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2. Water waves are mechanical waves, while light waves are electromagnetic waves.
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3. The waves produced due to vibration of a string are transverse mechanical
waves. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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4. Light waves can propagate in space.
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5. We can't hear the sound of solar explosions occurring on the sun, but we can
see the light coming out of it.
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6. Frequency is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the wave.
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Q3: Complete the following:
1. Waves are classified according to the ability to propagate & transfer energy
into ------------waves & ----------- waves.
2. Radio waves are considered ---------- waves that propagate through free
space with a velocity of -----------.

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 3. If the distance between the center of third compression and center of fifth
compression in longitudinal wave is 20 cm, so the wave length is ------------
4. The wave length of transverse wave equals the distance between ---------------
---------- or ------------------
5. Light waves are ---------------- waves, while the sound is ----------------- waves.
6. waves are classified according to the direction of vibration of medium
particles into --------------------------and ---------------------------
7. Electromagnetic waves have the advantage of propagation in space with a
velocity equals --------------------
8. From examples of the mechanical waves are --------------- and ------------------

Q4: Solve the following problems:

1- If the distance covered by the wave is 3000 m, in a time taken equals 2 sec.
Calculate the velocity of the wave. And in which medium does this wave move
through?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2- If the frequency of a visible light wave = 6×108 Megahertz .calculate the

frequency in Hertz.
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3- The velocity of the propagation of a sound wave though wood is 1800 m/sec.
find the frequency of the sound source if the wavelength of the produced wave
is 6m.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4- If the frequency of a sound wave in air is 660 Hertz, and the distance
between the centers of the second and the seventh compression is 2.5 meters,
calculate the velocity of the sound through air.
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5- Sound waves of frequency 200 Hz and wave length 1.7 m. calculate:
a. The velocity of sound waves propagation in air.
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b. The wavelength of these waves of frequency 200 Hz when they propagate
in water with velocity 1500 m/s -------------------------------------------------
6- A longitudinal wave produced from spiral spring such that the distance between
the first and forth rarefactions is 18 cm. find the wave velocity if the frequency
of such wave is 20 Hz. ------------------------------------------------------------------

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Q5: Define each of the following:
1. The wavelength of the transverse wave.
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2. The compression.
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3. The wave velocity.
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Q6: From the figure, find: 90 cm
The velocity of propagation of this wave.
--------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------- 0.06 sec
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Q7: From the figure, find: disp. (cm) 4m

1. Wave length: ----------------------------- Time (s)

2. Frequency : ------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
3. Amplitude: ------------------------------ 0.2 sec.
4. Wave velocity: --------------------------

Q8: From the opposite figure calculate : 0.02 sec.

a) Wavelength = ----------------
b) Wave velocity = -------------

Q9: Compare between: 14 m

Wave motion Oscillatory motion

Definition ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
---------------------------------- ---------------------------------

Amplitude ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

--------------------------------- ----------------------------------

Frequency ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

--------------------------------- ----------------------------------

Periodic time

Ex:

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