1. WAVE
Characteristics
March 24 – 27, 2015

2. What is a Wave? Watch the two waves. What do you see? How do the
particles move?
The particles oscillate - they are NOT carried across the screen by the page.
KEY POINT: Waves carry ENERGY not MATTER
Transverse wave
Longitudinal wave

3. What is a Wave? Definition:
A wave is a disturbance that carries energy through matter or space without transferring matter.
The energy carried by a wave can be substantial – think of earthquakes, tsunamis, or the heat and light of the sun.
Transverse wave
As you see here, there are two basic types of waves – transverse and longitudinal.
Longitudinal wave

4. Transverse wave
The particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer/propagation of the wave.
Examples:
earthquake secondary waves,
waves on a stringed musical instrument
waves on the rope,
EM waves: light, radio waves, microwaves…

5. Longitudinal wave
The particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction of energy transfer/propagation of the wave.
Creates areas of increased and decreased density
Areas of high density / pressure = compression
Areas of low density / pressure = rarefaction
Examples
Sound waves
Earthquake p waves
Compression in a spring
Transverse and longitudinal aren’t the only types – there are also surface waves (found on surface of ocean) where particles move in circular pattern

6. Wave characteristics Wavelength (λ) Phase
The length of one complete wave cycle of a wave
measured in meters
Phase
Two points on a wave that occur in the same position within the wave cycle – that is, they are one or more whole wavelengths apart -- are said to in phase.
Points in a wave medium can be anywhere from 0° to 360° out of phase with each other.
A trough and a crest are 180° out of phase with each other.

7. Wave characteristics Amplitude, A position. ● measured in m
● the maximum displacement of a particle from its equilibrium
position.
● measured in m
● the greater the amplitude, the greater the energy of the wave
● if a wave doesn’t lose energy, then its amplitude remains
constant; if the wave does lose energy then the amplitude
decreases over time (damping)

8. Wave characteristics Period, T Frequency, f
● is the time taken for one complete wave to pass any given point.
● measured in seconds
Frequency, f
● is the number of waves passing any given point per second.
● measured in cycles per seconds or Hz

9. Wave characteristics Wave speed, v Speed of sound in:
● The speed at which wavefronts pass a stationary observer.
● Depends only on the medium through which a wave travels!
Waves travel faster through material that is stiffer and through material that is less dense.
Speed of sound in:
air: 343 m/s
helium: 1005 m/s
water: 1500 m/s
bone: 3000 m/s
steel rod: 5000 m/s
glass: 4500 m/s
Speaking of medium …

10. Mechanical vs. EM waves
Mechanical Waves
● Only propagate (transmit energy) through a medium
● Make the particles of the medium oscillate at frequency of the
wave
Examples: waves on a string, sound waves, earthquakes, etc.,
EM (electromagnetic) waves
● Can propagate through a vacuum –or- through a medium
● Do not cause the particles of the medium to oscillate
● Made up of changing electric and magnetic fields
● always occur as transverse waves
● In a vacuum, EM waves travel at the speed of light
c ≈ 3 x 108 m/s
(EM waves travel more slowly through a medium)
Speaking of medium …
Will talk more about EM waves later!

11. Wave equation
A wave generator was used to generate waves of different frequencies in a rope. Two different tensions of rope where used. The wave speed and wavelength were measured.
Use the data in the table to answer the following questions
Which variable(s) affected wave speed?
How are wavelength, frequency, and speed related?
Only tension (changing the stiffness of the medium) affects speed.
λ = (v/f)
where,
λ = wavelength, m
v = wave speed, m/s
f = frequency, Hertz (Hz)

12. Check your Understanding
Show:
A arrives first
B arrives first
Same time
Impossible to determine
Wave speed depends only on the medium!

13. Check your Understanding
c) Wave speed depends only on the medium!

14. Check your Understanding
2 seconds!

15. You do
A sound wave has a frequency of 192 Hz and travels the length of a football field, 91.4 m, in s.
What is the speed of the wave?
What is the wavelength of the wave?
What is the period of the wave?
If the frequency were changed to 442 Hz, what would be the new wavelength and period?
v = x/t = 337 m/s
λ = v/f = 1.76 m
T = 1/f = s
λ = v/f = m; T = 1/f = s
v = x/t = 337 m/s
λ = v/f = 1.76 m
T = 1/f = s
λ = v/f = m; T = 1/f = s

16. You do
A sound wave produced by a clock chime is heard 515 m away 1.5 s later.
What is the speed of sound in the air there?
(b) The sound wave has a frequency of 436 Hz. What is the period of the wave?
(c) What is the wave's wavelength?
v = x/t = 337 m/s
λ = v/f = 1.76 m
T = 1/f = s
λ = v/f = m; T = 1/f = s

17. You do
A hiker shouts toward a vertical cliff 465 m away. The echo is heard 2.75 s later.
What is the speed of sound in air there?
The wavelength of the sound is 0.75 m. What is the frequency of the wave?
(c) What is its period?
v = x/t = 337 m/s
λ = v/f = 1.76 m
T = 1/f = s
λ = v/f = m; T = 1/f = s