1. Oscillations and Waves
Wave Characteristics

3. Progressive Waves
Any wave that moves through or across a medium (e.g. water or even a vacuum) carrying energy away from its source is a progressive (travelling) wave.
E.g. A duck on water:
As the wave passes the duck, the water (and duck) only oscillate vertically.
Duck oscillation
Wave direction

4. This illustrates that there is no net transfer of the medium through which the wave travels, only energy moves from place to place.
In many examples, the wave carrying medium will oscillate with simple harmonic motion (i.e. a  -x).

5. Types of Wave
Waves can be described as transverse or longitudinal.
In a transverse wave the vibration (oscillation) of particles is at right angles to the direction of energy transfer. Transverse waves cannot move through a gas.
Examples:
In a longitudinal wave the vibration of particles is in the same plane as the direction of energy transfer.

6. (Label a crest (peak), trough, rarefaction, compression)
Transverse:
Longitudinal:
Energy Transfer
Oscillation Energy transfer
(Label a crest (peak), trough, rarefaction, compression)

7. Describing Waves
Crest and trough: Points on the wave where particles are oscillating at maximum positive and negative displacement.
Rarefaction and compression: Areas in a longitudinal wave where particles are far apart (lower than normal density) and close together (higher than normal density).

8. Wave graphs Waves can be represented graphically in two ways:
Displacement - Distance:
Displacement – Time:
Wavelength
Amplitude
Distance
Displacement
Time Period
Amplitude
Time
Displacement

9. The following terms and descriptions are mixed up
The following terms and descriptions are mixed up. Copy the table but give each term the correct description:
Intensity of a wave is the ‘power per unit area’ incident upon a surface, in Wm-2. (It is proportional to the square of the amplitude, so I  A2)
Term
Description
1. Wavelength (λ)
d. The distance between two successive crests (in metres, m)
2. Amplitude (A)
a. The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position (in metres, m)
3. Frequency (f)
e. The number of waves completed in one second (in Hertz, Hz)
4. Periodic Time (T)
c. The time required for the wave to complete one oscillation (in seconds, s)
5. Speed (v)
Term
Description
1. Wavelength (λ)
d. The distance between two successive crests (in metres, m)
2. Amplitude (A)
a. The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position (in metres, m)
3. Frequency (f)
e. The number of waves completed in one second (in Hertz, Hz)
4. Periodic Time (T)
c. The time required for the wave to complete one oscillation (in seconds, s)
5. Speed (v)
b. The distance moved by a wave crest per second (in metres per second, ms-1)
Term
Description
1. Wavelength (λ)
d. The distance between two successive crests (in metres, m)
2. Amplitude (A)
a. The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position (in metres, m)
3. Frequency (f)
e. The number of waves completed in one second (in Hertz, Hz)
4. Periodic Time (T)
5. Speed (v)
Term
Description
1. Wavelength (λ)
d. The distance between two successive crests (in metres, m)
2. Amplitude (A)
a. The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position (in metres, m)
3. Frequency (f)
4. Periodic Time (T)
5. Speed (v)
Term
Description
1. Wavelength (λ)
d. The distance between two successive crests (in metres, m)
2. Amplitude (A)
3. Frequency (f)
4. Periodic Time (T)
5. Speed (v)
Term
Description
1. Wavelength (λ)
a. The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position (in metres, m)
2. Amplitude (A)
b. The distance moved by a wave crest per second (in metres per second, ms-1)
3. Frequency (f)
c. The time required for the wave to complete one oscillation (in seconds, s)
4. Periodic Time (T)
d. The distance between two successive crests (in metres, m)
5. Speed (v)
e. The number of waves completed in one second (in Hertz, Hz)
Note: I = 2π2ρf2v∆x2max

10. The Wave Equation
In a time of one full period (t = T), a point in a wave will move forward through one a distance of one whole wavelength (d = λ).
so…
substituting gives…
This is called the ‘wave equation’
Speed = Distance Time
Wave speed = Wavelength Time period
v = λ T
but… T = f
v = f λ

11. Electromagnetic Waves
The visible spectrum of light (Roy G Biv) is just a small part of a larger group of electromagnetic waves known as the ‘electromagnetic spectrum’.
All electromagnetic radiation:
exists as variations in electrical and magnetic fields
travels at 3 x 108 ms-1 ( ms-1)
can travel through a vacuum
carries energy
has wave behaviour (obeying v = fλ)

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