By: Shannon M.

Portuondo

Waves: Parts of a Wave

Let’s Develop the Concept of a Wave:

• What are Waves? Video segment:

• https://dadeschools.discoveryeducation.com/learn/player/b1df659
b-4864-44a6-a5d9-09db36f86913
Definition of a Wave
• A wave is a disturbance in a medium that
carries energy away from the source.
• Examples:
• Sound Waves (Air)
• Water Waves (Water)
• Wave on a string (string)
• Light Wave (exception: no medium)
Difference between Mechanical Waves and
Electromagnetic Waves:
• Electromagnetic Wave: does not require a
medium in order to propagate. These waves
can travel through a vacuum as well as a
medium.
• Mechanical Wave: do require a medium for
propagation.
• There are 2 types of mechanical waves
and the differences in these waves are
due to the vibrations of the particles in
the medium when the wave is
propagating.
• Longitudinal Waves
• Transverse Waves
Types of Waves: Longitudinal Waves
• Longitudinal Waves: when a wave is
transported from one point to another
point by means of particles that are
vibrating parallel to the wave’s
propagation. In other words, the
particles of the medium will vibrate in
the direction of the wave’s motion.
• These waves can propagate in:
• Solids
• Liquids
• Gases
Types of Waves: Transverse Waves
• Transverse Waves: If the particles of
the medium vibrate perpendicular to
the propagation of wave motion about
their mean position, then we refer to it
as a transverse wave.
• These are transmitted through:
• solids
• across the surface of liquids.
Parts of a Wave:
Characteristics of Waves:
• Wavelength: is the distance a wave travels in one complete oscillation.
• It is measured in meters (m)
• It is denoted by the Greek symbol Lambda
• Frequency is the number of times a wave oscillates in one second.
• Is measured in unites of cycles per second (1/s) or Hertz (Hz)
• It is denoted by f
• Period is the time in which a wave completes one full oscillation.
• It is measured in units of seconds (s)
• It is denoted by T.
• Period is the inverse of frequency
Characteristics of Waves: Continued
• Amplitude: is the maximum displacement of a wave from its
equilibrium position.
• It is measured in units meters (m)
• It is denoted by A

• Wave speed is the speed at which a wave propagates through

space.
• It is measured in meters per second (m/s)
• It is denoted by v.
How to solve problems involving Wave
Speed, Wavelength, and Frequency:
Sample Problems:
Sample Problems:
Sample Problem:
Properties of Sound Waves
Vocabulary:
• Pitch: the perception of high or low that you hear at different
frequencies.
• Decibel: a unit of measure for the intensity or strength of a sound.
• Supersonic: a term to describe speeds faster than the speed of
sound.
• Doppler effect: an increase or decrease in frequency caused by the
motion of the source of an oscillation.
• The frequency and
wavelength of
sound are inversely
related. When the
frequency does up,
the wavelength
goes down
proportionally.
 The Doppler
Effect
• The Doppler effect is a
phenomenon observed when
waves originate from a source
that is in motion relative to
the observer/listener of the
wave.
• This effect results in a change
in the perceived frequency of
the wave.
• Example: an ambulance siren
will rise in pitch as it moves
closer, and then as it passes it
pitch will lower.
The Doppler Effect Graphs…
Moving at the same
speed as the ambulance

Moving at a slower
speed than the
ambulance

Moving at a faster speed

than the ambulance
The Doppler Effect Continued…
• Watch this video:

• https://dadeschools.discoveryeducation.com/learn/videos/2e09abf
7-e67e-47ec-af32-2cc37e32400d/?utm_source=2e09abf7-e67e-
47ec-af32-
2cc37e32400d&utm_medium=quicklist&utm_campaign=hublinks