Waves and wave

motion

HC

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under the National Development Plan
 A wave is a means of transferring energy
from one place to another
 Types of Waves
• Mechanical Waves – need matter (or
medium) to transfer energy
• A medium is the substance through
which a wave can travel. Ex. Air; water;
particles; strings; solids; liquids; gases

• Electromagnetic Waves – DO NOT NEED

matter (or medium) to transfer energy
• They do not need a medium, but they
can go through matter (medium), such as
air, water, and glass
 2 types of
Mechanical waves.

• TRANSVERSE WAVES
• LONGITUDINAL WAVES
 Transverse Waves
• In transverse waves,
particles vibrate at right
angles to the direction the
wave travels.
• Transverse waves can be
modeled by using a sine
wave.
• transverse waves may or
may not require a medium.
wavelength

crest amplitude

trough
 Longitudinal Waves
• In longitudinal waves,
particles vibrate back
and forth in the same
direction that the wave
travels.
• Longitudinal waves can
be modeled by using a
spring.
• Sound waves are compression
longitudinal waves.
• Longitudinal waves are
mechanical waves – they
require a medium. rarefaction
Wave
Pulses
 What are some examples of
Electromagnetic Waves?

• Radio
waves
• Microwaves
• Infrared light
• Visible light
• Ultraviolet light
• X-rays
• Gamma Rays
 Parts of a
Transverse Wave

The crest is
the highest
point on a
wave.
 Parts of a
Transverse Wave

The trough is
the valley
between two
waves, is the
lowest point.
 Parts of a Transverse Wave
The wavelength is the horizontal
distance, either between the crests or
troughs of two consecutive waves.
 Parts of a Transverse Wave
The amplitude is the peak (greatest) value
(either positive or negative) of a wave. The
distance from the undisturbed level to the
trough or crest.
Frequency- is the number of waves produced per unit of
time.
What 3 characteristics do
All Waves have?
• Amplitude
• Wavelength
• Frequency
 Properties of waves

 1. Reflection:
Reflection is the bouncing of a wave off an object.
 Properties of waves

 2 Refraction is the bending of a wave

as it travels from one medium to
another. Note that when a wave travels
from one medium to another its
frequency does not change.
Properties of waves

 3. Diffraction is the spreading of waves

around a slit or an obstacle.
 This effect is only significantly noticeable
if the slit width is approximately the same
size as the wavelength of the waves.
Properties of waves

 4 Interference occurs when waves

from two sources meet to produce
a wave of different amplitude.
 Interference of Waves
When two or more waves propagating in the same medium
meet at the same point, interference is said to occur.
A stable interference pattern can be observed when two water
waves of same frequency meet one another in a ripple tank.

= +
Two types of interference

Constructive Interference Destructive Interference

Constructive Interference

 Constructive Interference occurs when

waves from two coherent sources meet to
produce a wave of greater amplitude.
 (Constructive interference occurs when the
crests of one wave are over the crests of
another wave).
Destructive Interference

 Destructive Interference occurs when

waves from two coherent sources meet to
produce a wave of lower amplitude.
 (Destructive interference occurs when the crests of one
wave are over the troughs of the second wave.
This will happen if one wave is half a wavelength out of
phase with respect to the other).
Waves Waves

Electromagnetic Waves Mechanical Waves

do not require a medium require a medium

transverse wave longitudinal wave

Ex: light
earthquake
Ex: sound
s-waves
earthquake
p-waves