Waves

What is a wave?
• A wave is a rhythmic disturbance that
transfers energy.
• When a wave moves through matter,
the matter moves back and forth but
moves back to the original position.
 Examples of Waves
• Slinky waves - A slinky illustrates a
mechanical disturbance caused by a
force moving one of the spring coils.
• The energy of a wave in a slinky will
pass from one end to the other.
 Sound Waves
• A sound wave is a
mechanical disturbance
caused by a force
moving molecules in the
medium through which it
passes.
• A sound wave travels out
in all directions from a
vibrating object
• A sound wave travels
through the medium
 Light Waves
• A light wave is energy that can be
transmitted without mechanical
disturbance of the particles of a
medium
• Light waves travel in straight lines
in all directions from the light
source
• Light waves do not need a
medium to travel through
 Types of Waves
• Electromagnetic waves may travel
through a medium but do not need a
medium for transmission
• Mechanical waves must have a medium
through which to move.
– Mechanical waves transfer energy through
the particles of a medium
 Types of Mechanical Waves
• Transverse waves - the waves moves
through the medium in a direction that
is perpendicular (up and down)
• Ex: waves in guitar, secondary
earthquake waves
 Types of Mechanical Waves
• Longitudinal/compressional - the wave
moves through the medium in a
direction that is straight across
• Ex: Sound, primary earthquake waves
 More Vocabulary
• In a transverse wave the point of maximum
displacement of the particles in a medium
from the equilibrium is called a crest or trough
• In a longitudinal wave the particles of the
medium are pushed together to form a high
pressure area called a compression and
spread out to form a lower pressure area
called a rarefaction
 Parts of a Waves
Wavelength (λ)
• The length of one wave
• The distance between two crests
• Measured in meters
Parts of a Wave (cont)
 Frequency
Frequency (f)
•The number of waves that pass by in a
second
•Measured in Hertz (Hz)
•1 Hz = 1 1/s
• If you increase the Frequency of a wave,
the wavelength gets shorter
 Amplitude
Amplitude
• The height or
strength of a
wave
• The greater the
energy of the
wave, the greater
the amplitude
 Period
• The period of a wave is the time for one
cycle or the time for one complete wave
to pass
• The period is measured in seconds
• The period and the frequency are
inversely related. An increase in
frequency would result in a decrease in
period.
 Speed of a Wave
Speed (v) v = λf
Units = m/s Other formulas to
know that you will
Wavelength (λ) not be given on the
Units = m test:
λ= v/f
Frequency (f)
Units = Hz (1/s ) f = v/λ
 Example Problems
What is the speed of a wave with a wavelength of
1.3 m and a frequency of 60 Hz?
v = λf
v = (1.3 m)(60 Hz)
v = 78 m/s

What is the speed of a wave with a wavelength of

4.10 m and a frequency of 50.0 Hz?
v = λf
v = (4.1 m)(50 Hz)
v = 205 m/s
 Example Problems
What is the frequency of a wave with a
wavelength of 2.0 m and a speed of 80 m/s?
f = v/λ
f = (80 m/s)(2 m)
f = 40 Hz

What is the frequency of a wave with a

wavelength of 6.0 m and a speed of 90 m/s?
f = v/λ
f = (90 m/s)(6 m)
f = 15 Hz
 Example Problems
What is the wavelength of a wave with a speed of
20 m/s and a frequency of 5.0 Hz?
λ = v/f
λ = (20 m/s)/(5 Hz)
λ = 4.0 m

What is the wavelength of a wave with a speed of

36 m/s and a frequency of 4.0 Hz?
λ = v/f
λ = (36 m/s)/(4 Hz)
λ = 9.0 m