GENERAL

PHYSICS 1
ALJON L. EMPERADO
TEACHER I
MECHANICAL
WAVE
Mechanical waves are produced when
particles vibrate in a medium in which
the wave propagates. As a result, the
momentum and energy are exchange
among the particles and the medium.
Mechanical waves can propagate through
solid, liquid, or gas.
Longitudinal waves are waves that
vibrate parallel to the direction of
motion of the wave. Consider slinky
springs and the waves can be
produced by moving one end of the
spring back and forth in the
direction of its length.
The distance from the midpoint of
one crest or trough to the midpoint of
the next is called the wavelength and
is represented by the Greek letter, λ
(lambda).
Examples of transverse waves include
ripples on the water surface, vibrations
on a guitar string, and seismic S-wave.
Electromagnetic waves where light
belongs have transverse characteristics,
but unlike other mechanical waves, they
propagate in a vacuum.
SINUSOIDAL
WAVE
• Sound frequency is
measured in hertz (Hz).
This unit was based
on a German physicist
named Heinrich Rudolf
Hertz who made important scientific
contributions to the study
of electromagnetism.
(1857-1894)
CLASSIFICATION OF SOUND
FREQUENCIES

• Infrasound - sound frequencies lower than 20 Hz

(Hertz).

Examples:
• Whales
• Elephants
• Rhinoceros
• Okapi
• Alligator
• Ultrasound - sound frequencies higher than 20 000
Hz.
Examples:
• cat
• dog
• bat
• dolphins
• rat
• grasshoppers
• The audible range that humans can hear is
about 20 – 20 000 Hz.
 LET’S
SOLVE!
1.What is the wavelength of a wave
if 5 full waves pass per second
with the speed of 15 m/s?

2.What is the speed of the wave if it

has a frequency of 5 Hz and 2m
wavelength?
3. Calculate the total period of a wave in
a spring that travels a speed of 4.5 m/s if
the wavelength is 2.5m.
1.What is the wavelength of a wave
if 218 full waves pass per second
with the speed of 18 m/s?

2.What is the speed of the wave if it

has a frequency of 512 Hz and
25m wavelength?
3. Calculate the total period of a wave in
a rope that travels a speed of 46 m/s if
the wavelength is 8.5 m.
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!