Waves

Waves can transfer energy and information without a net motion of the medium
through which they travel. They involve vibrations (oscillations) of some sort.

Transverse waves

Examples
Water ripples , Light , On a rope/slinky

Longitudinal waves
The oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer

Example
Sound

Amplitude A
 The maximum displacement from the mean position

Period T
The time taken (in seconds) for one complete oscillation

Frequency- f
The number of oscillations in one second. Measured in Hertz

1.

Relation between Period and frequency

 Period and frequency are reciprocals of each other
f = 1/T T = 1/f

Wavelength
The length of one complete wave.

Wave speed v
The speed at which the wave fronts pass a stationary observer

The Wave Equation

v = f

v = speed (m/s) = wavelength (m) f = frequency (Hz)

Label a wave
Some example wave equation questions

1) A water wave has a frequency of 2Hz and a wavelength of 0.3m. How fast is
it moving?
2) A water wave travels through a pond with a speed of 1m/s and a frequency of
5Hz. What is the wavelength of the waves?
3) The speed of sound is 330m/s (in air). When Dave hears this sound his ear
vibrates 660 times a second. What was the wavelength of the sound?
4) Purple light has a wavelength of around 6x10 -7m and a frequency of 5x1014Hz.
What is the speed of purple light?