Physics

Chapter 7 – Waves and Superposition

Learning Objective(s)

1. To understand the formation of mechanical waves and

their relationship with energy.
2. To understand the difference between transverse waves
and longitudinal waves.
3. To learn and understand the principle of superposition of
waves
4. To understand the form of stationary waves and
progressive waves.
Learning Outcome(s)

1. Students can understand the form of mechanical waves.

2. Students can relate the relationship between waves and energy.
3. Students can differentiate transverse waves and longitudinal
waves.
4. Students can define the term of amplitudes, frequency, period,
wavelength, wave number and phase number
5. Students can distinguish between progressive and stationary
waves.
Introduction
Waves & energy
A wave is a transfer of energy through a medium from
one point to another
Example:
• Energy from sun transferred to earth through

electromagnetic waves.
• When we speak, our energy is transferred to another

person by sound waves.

• Sea waves transfer a lot of energy when they hit the
shore.
 Types of wavesWaves: Introduction and Types Name _________
Ins tructions : Read through the information below. Then complete the statements a
2 major types of waves: of the page using the BOLD words from the page.
A wave is a transfer of energy through a medium from one point to another. Some
• Transverse Wave which moves the medium
of waves include; water waves, sound waves, and radio waves. Waves come in tw
forms; a Trans ve rs e Wave which moves the medium pe rpe ndicular to the wave m
perpendicular to the wave motion
Lo ng itudinal Wave, which moves the medium paralle l to the wave motion.
Transverse Wave Longitudinal Wave

ves: Introduction and Types Name __________________

ctions : Read through the information below. Then complete the statements at the bottom
of the page using the BOLD words from the page.
Examples of Transverse waves would be a vibrating guitar string or electromagneti
e is a transfer of energy through a medium from one point to another. Some examples
while an example of a Longitudinal wave would be a “Slinky” wave that you push an
ves include; waterLongitudinal Wave which moves the medium parallel
• waves, sound waves, and radio waves. Waves come in two different
a Trans ve rs e Wave which moves the medium pehave
Waves severaltoproperties
rpe ndicular the wave which are
motion, represented
and a in the diagrams below. In a T
to the wave motion. wave lthe
tudinal Wave, which moves the medium paralle s t andmotion.
Crewave
to the Troughs are the locations of maximum displacement up or dow
Transverse Wave Amplitude isLongitudinal
the measurement
Wave of maximum displacement. The Wave le ng th is the
of one complete wave cycle. For example; the distance from crest to crest or trough
would be 1 wavelength.
In a Longitudinal wave, areas of maximum displacement are known as Co mpre s s i
Rare fac tio ns . The stronger the wave, the more compressed and spread out the wa
medium becomes.
Trans ve rs e Wave Lo ng itudinal Wave Compressio
les of Transverse waves would be a vibrating guitar string or electromagnetic waves,
n example of a Longitudinal wave would be a “Slinky” wave that you push and pull.
Transverse waves
1. Example of Transverse waves would
Examples of Transverse waves be a vibrating
would be a vibrating guitar stri
guitar string or electromagnetic
while waves wave would be a “Slinky” w
an example of a Longitudinal
2. In a Transverse wave
Waves havethe Crest
several and Troughs
properties which are are the in the d
represented
wave the Cre s t and Troughs are the locations of maximum dis
locations of maximum displacement up or down. The
Amplitude is the measurement of maximum displacement. Th
Amplitude is the measurement
of one of maximum
complete wave cycle. For example; the distance from c
displacement.would
ThebeWavelength
1 wavelength. is the distance of one
complete wave In acycle.
Longitudinal wave, areas the
For example; of maximum
distancedisplacement
from are k
Rare fac tio ns . The stronger the wave, the more compressed a
crest to crest medium
or trough to trough would be 1
becomes.
wavelength. Trans ve rs e Wave Lo ng itudina

Fill in the s tate m e nts us ing the BOLD words from

 Longitudinal waves
• An example of a Longitudinal wave would be a “Slinky”
erse waves would be a vibrating guitar string or electromagnetic waves,
wave
a Longitudinal that
wave you
would be apush
“Slinky” and pullyou push and pull.
wave that
• In
properties a Longitudinal
which are represented inwave, areas
the diagrams ofInmaximum
below. a Transverse displacement
Troughs are the locations of maximum displacement up or down. The
easurement are knowndisplacement.
of maximum as Compressions
The Wave le ngand Rarefactions.
th is the distance The
stronger
ve cycle. For the
example; the wave,
distance fromthe
crestmore
to crestcompressed
or trough to troughand spread out
gth.
the
ve, areas of wavedisplacement
maximum mediumare becomes.
known as Co mpre s s io ns and
stronger the wave, the more compressed and spread out the wave

Lo ng itudinal Wave Compressions

Rarefactions
e s tate m e nts us ing the BOLD words from the above inform ation.
s Parallel to wave direction describes a ___________________ wave.
Exercise
1. Wave motion that is Parallel to wave direction describes a
________wave.
2. A _________ is the maximum upwards displacement in a
Transverse wave.
3. One complete wave cycle is referred to as a _______.
4. Wave motion that is Perpendicular to wave direction
describes a _________wave.
5. A _______ or ________ is the maximum displacement in a
Longitudinal wave.
6. An Ocean wave would be an example of a ______ wave.
7. The distance from one trough to another trough is called a
___________.
8. The measurement of displacement is called a wave’s
_______.
Waves: Velocity and Frequency
1. The velocity of a wave can be calculated if you have enough
information. First you need to know the Wavelength, or the length
of one complete wave cycle.
2. This could be measured Crest to Crest, Trough to Trough, or any
other complete cycle of a wave.
3. The second aspect you need is the wave Frequency, or the
number of waves or vibrations produced per second. The
frequency is measured in Hertz and the Wavelength is measured in
meters.
Waves: Velocity and Frequency

The equation for calculating the velocity of a wave is:

EXAMPLE:
A wave as a Wavelength of 5 meters and a Frequency of
10 Hz. What is its velocity?
Exercise
Solve using the wave velocity equation

1. A wave has a Wavelength of 12 meters and a Frequency of 10 Hz.

What is its velocity?

2. A wave has a Wavelength of 3 meters and a Frequency of 15Hz.

What is its velocity?

3. A wave has a Wavelength of 18 meters and a Frequency of .5 Hz.

What is its velocity?

4. A wave has a Wavelength of .5 meters and a Frequency of 100 Hz.

What is its velocity?
Properties of waves
Cont…
Exercise
Figure below shows the displacement of a particle with time

Displacement, y/cm

0 t/s
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

a) Find;
(i) the period; (ii) the frequency; (iii) the number of
waves in 2s (iv) the angular frequency.
b) Write an expression for the displacement in terms of
time, t.
Solution

a) (i) T = 0.8s;
(ii) f = 1/T = 1/0.8 = 1.25Hz
(iii) n = ft = 1.25 X 2 = 2.5
(iv) ω = 2πf = 2 π X 1.25 = 2.5 π rad/s

b) y = 3 sin 2.5 π t
Cont…
Exercise

1. Calculate the speed of the waves having a crest-to-

crest distance of 150 cm and the time taken to complete
one cycle is 5 ms.
2. Given the following sound wave equation:
s(x,t)= 150 sin(50x - 140t) dB
a) The amplitude of the wave.
b) the wave frequency and the periodic time
c) the wavelength
d) The time taken for the wave to reach the first
crest.