Introduction to Waves

Electricity and Magnetism

Hans Christian Oersted
•Discovered the relationship between
electricity and magnetism.
•Electricity creates magnetic field and
changing magnetic field generates
electricity
James Clerk Maxwell
•Formulated the electromagnetic theory
•According to him, electromagnetic
waves are disturbances produced by
accelerating charged particles, such as
vibrating electrons.
Heinrich Hertz
•Verified the predictions of Maxwell and
showed how electromagnetic waves can
be generated and detected using a
device called Hertz Apparatus
Wave Properties
I. Wave properties
• A. Transverse waves look like a sine curve (looks like an
“S” on its side)
- example drawing – all parts labeled
B. Parts of a transverse wave
1. Crest – highest point on a transverse wave
2. Trough – lowest point on a transverse wave
3. Amplitude – greatest distance a particle is displaced
from its normal resting position
B. Parts of a transverse wave
4. Wavelength – distance between 2 successive
identical points on a wave
 symbol =  (lambda) measured in meters
Wave Properties

5. Period (T) – time required for one full wavelength to pass a certain point
(measured in seconds)

6. Frequency (f)– number of wavelengths that pass a point in 1 second

 measured in hertz (Hz)
 named after Heinrich Hertz (1888)
 1 Hz = 1 wavelength (vibration) per second
 can hear 20 Hz (low)  20,000 Hz (high)
C. Longitudinal waves
1. No crests or troughs
2. Compressions and rarefactions (stretched)
- example drawing of longitudinal wave (click on
picture)
C. Longitudinal waves
• Compressions – areas where the medium is squeezed together closer
than at equilibrium

• Rarefactions – areas where the medium is stretched or expanded

farther apart than at equilibrium

• One wavelength is from compression to compression or rarefaction to

rarefaction
Properties of EM Waves
 All matter contains charged particles that are always
moving; therefore, all objects emit EM waves.
Properties of EM Waves
 All matter contains charged particles that are always
moving; therefore, all objects emit EM waves.
 The wavelengths become shorter as the temperature of
the material increases.
Properties of EM Waves
 All matter contains charged particles that are always
moving; therefore, all objects emit EM waves.
 The wavelengths become shorter as the temperature of
the material increases.
 EM waves carry radiant energy.
What is the speed of EM waves?
 All EM waves travel 300,000
km/sec in space. (speed of
light-nature’s limit!)
What is the speed of EM waves?
 All EM waves travel 300,000 Material Speed
km/sec in space. (speed of (km/s)
light-nature’s limit!) Vacuum 300,000
 EM waves usually travel Air <300,000
slowest in solids and fastest in
gases. Water 226,000
Glass 200,000
Diamond 124,000
Electromagnetic Waves
Section 2 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The whole range of EM wave…
• Frequencies is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
The whole range of EM wave…
• Frequencies is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Different parts interact with matter in different ways.
The whole range of EM wave…
• Frequencies is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Different parts interact with matter in different ways.
• The ones humans can see are called visible light, a small part of the
whole spectrum.