*

Waves &
Communication
8.2.1 The wave model can be used to explain how current technologies transfer
information

Learning Intentions: describe the energy transformations required in one of the following:
mobile telephone
fax/modem
radio and television
 *
CONTEXT What would we do without communication?

From the beginning of time, communication has been part of

human society
Communication is basically the transmission of information from
a source to receiver
Lets look at some forms of communication over time:
*
 *
1896
1840
- Guglielmo Marconi
- Samuel Morse
showed that messages
showed that messages
could be transmitted
could be transmitted
through empty space
through conducting
using EMR
wires using electrical
impulses
Electromagnetic waves
 *
Energy transformations in a TV broadcast

Learning Intentions: describe the energy transformations required in one of the following:
mobile telephone
fax/modem
radio and television
 *
Energy transformations in a TV broadcast

Learning Intentions: describe the energy transformations required in one of the following:
mobile telephone
fax/modem
radio and television
 *

1.2.2 Waves transferring energy in 1,2, or 3 directions?

Transverse water waves formed when a stone is

dropped in a pond

Longitudinal sound waves in air as a musical

instrument is played

Transverse waves in a
guitar string
 *
8.2.1.3 Wave types
A wave transports energy from one point in space to
another
Waves do not move matter., energy is transferred only.
There are two main categories of waves: mechanical and
electromagnetic
Mechanical waves are those that require a physical medium
through which to travel eg sound waves, water waves,
earthquake waves etc
Electromagnetic waves require no medium through which to
travel and thus can travel through a vacuum eg light, radio
waves, gamma rays etc.
Learning intention: Identify that mechanical waves require a medium for propagation while
electromagnetic waves do not
 *
Waves in three directions

Learning Intention:
describe waves as a transfer of energy
disturbance that may occur in one, two or
three dimensions, depending on the nature
of the wave and the medium
Waves in three dimensions *

One dimensional-
rope moves in one
direction from source.

Three dimensional-
Sound moves in three
Two dimensional- directions from
ripple moves in two source.
directions from
source.
Three dimensional-
EMR moves in three
directions from
source.
 Where have you seen waves as *

energy carriers?

Learning intention:
- describe the relationship
between particle motion and
the direction of energy
propagation in transverse and
longitudinal waves
 *
Transverse vs. longitudinal waves
1.2.4

Transverse waves

Displacement
are when the
displacement is at
right angles to the
direction of the
wave Direction

Displacement
Longitudinal waves
are when the
displacement is
parallel to the
direction of the
Direction wave
 *
Studying waves- ripple machine

http://www.falstad.com/ripple/
 Syllabus dot points

Learning Intentions:
define and apply the following terms to the wave model: medium,
displacement, amplitude, period, compression, rarefaction, crest, trough,
transverse waves, longitudinal waves, frequency, wavelength, velocity

quantify the relationship between velocity, frequency and wavelength for a

wave: v = f
 Some definitions Rest or equilibrium
*

position

1) Amplitude this is
how high the wave is.
In the case of sound,
amplitude refers to
loudness

2) Wavelength () this is the

distance between two corresponding
points on the wave and is measured
in metres:

3) Frequency this is how many waves pass by every

second and is measured in Hertz (Hz)
 *
Relationship between Frequency & Period

Period (T) - is the time in seconds for one complete wave

to pass a given point, or the time for any particle to make
one complete vibration

Frequency = 1 / Period
f=1/T
where f is the frequency (s-1 or Hz)
T is the period (s)
 *
The Wave Equation
The wave equation relates the speed of the wave to its frequency and
wavelength:

Wave speed (v) = frequency (f) x wavelength ()

in m/s in Hz in m

f
 *
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?
0.6m/s

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?
0.2m
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?
0.5m
4) Purple light has a wavelength of around 6x10-7m and a frequency
of 5x1014Hz. What is the speed of purple light?
3x108m/s
 *
Summary
Characteristic Meaning Symbol Unit

Amplitude Maximum displacement A metre (m)

from the rest / eqm position

Wavelength Distance between peak to metre (m)

peak of a wave
Frequency Number of complete waves Hertz (Hz)
in one second
Period Time taken to produce one T sec (s)
complete wave
Velocity Speed at which a wave v metre per
travels sec
(m/s)
 Wave Equation Practice
8.2.1 Wave equation calculations
 *
First Hand Investigation 8.2.1.9
perform a first-hand investigation to gather information
about the frequency and amplitude of waves using an
oscilloscope or electronic data-logging equipment

Complete an accurate
experimental write up in e-
logbook.

CRO not crow.

Practical 1.2
 Example calculation

1 cycle occupies 2.8cm

Therefore
T = 2.8 x 0.5ms = 1.4ms

Frequency = 1/T
= 1/1.4 X 10-3s
= 714 Hz

Time base set at 0.5ms/cm

 Results

Input frequency Period (T) Calculated frequency

(Hz) (1/T)
1000 1ms 1/(1 x 10-3) = 1000

3500 0.35ms 1/(3.5 x 10-4) = 2857

500 2ms 1/(2 x 10-3) = 500

VIRTUAL OSCILLOSCOPE- click here

FREQUENCY GENERATOR- click here
 Results

Input Low volume High Volume

frequency
(Hz)

500
 Practical 1.3
Complete an accurate
experimental write up in e-
1. Using the setup (right) input a logbook.
sound of known frequency of 1kHz
into a CRO. Plug the audio
generator into a loudspeaker.

1. Using a microphone, which has its

signal input into the CRO, measure
the distances when the 2 wave
signals are in sync (1 wavelength)
and out of sync ( wavelength).
Move the microphone away
slowly. Find at least 4 wavelengths.

1. Average the wavelengths and use

Wavelength Distance
the wave equation to measure the
velocity of sound in air.
 Practical 1.3

Results table

# m
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Kundts Tube

Frequency = 550 hz
Nodes- every 30cm
Wavelength = 60cm

V=f.
V = 550 * 0.6
= 330ms-1
 Practical 1.4
Method
1. Capture a screen grab
photograph or slow motion
video of:

a) Noise
b) Two different instruments
playing a single note
c) Music
d) An electronically produced tone
e) Humming/Talking

2. Include an analysis/annotation of
each waveform in your Prac report.
Use words like:
- Pitch
- Frequency
- Amplitude
- Smooth/jagged/multiple waves

VIRTUAL OSCILLOSCOPE- click here

Complete Section 1 of Question Sets