Properties of Waves and Sound Barton Spring 2014 Honors Physics
Difference between wave motion and particle motion: Both carry energy Particles move and carry energy through a transfer of matter A wave is a disturbance that carries energy through matter or space
Mechanical waves: (like sound) Require a medium through which to travel – ie: water, air, ropes, spring – CANNOT travel in a vacuum Pulse – single wave
Longitudinal wave - vibrates parallel to direction of wave’s motion Sound waves Mechanical waves: Transverse wave - vibrates perpendicular to direction of wave’s motion
Mechanical waves: Surface waves – characteristics of both transverse and longitudinal waves; particles move parallel and perpendicular to direction of wave motion Equilibrium position (rest position)
Wave calculations:
Wave behavior: Speed of wave depends only on the medium it passes through (not amplitude or frequency) Incident wave – wave that strikes a boundary Reflected wave – returning wave that has bounced back from a boundary faster wave speed slower wave speed --- reflected wave is inverted slower wave speed faster wave speed --- reflected wave is not inverted <---- demos of waves on rope
Wave behavior: Principle of Superposition – displacement of a medium caused by 2 or more waves is the sum of the displacements caused by individual waves Interference – result of superposition of 2 or more waves /Demos/superposition/superpositio n.html <---superposition videos /Demos/superposition/superpositio n.html CONSTRUCTIVE DESTRUCTIVE
Wave behavior: Refraction – change in direction of waves at the boundary between two different mediums, bending of the wave
Perceiving sound: Pitch – depends on frequency Loudness – depends on amplitude – Sound level – measuring scale of amplitudes – Decibel (dB) – unit for measurement of sound level Medium determines wave speed
Doppler effect: Think about it: If the source and observer are moving towards each other, the waves get bunched together and the frequency goes up. If the source and observer are moving further apart, the frequency will decrease as the waves get stretched apart. Keep this in mind as you apply the equation!