GENERAL WAVE PROPERTIES

SECONDARY 3 PHYSICS
 Waves Around Us
 Water waves
 Sound waves
 Earthquake (seismic waves)

Note:
Waves carry energy (eg. Electromagnetic waves)
 What is a wave?
 A wave may be thought of as a spread of
disturbance.

Eg: the surface of a pond is actually calm until we

drop a pebble. Then the surface of the water starts
to move as it is disturbed. That disturbance spreads
outwards.
http://webphysics.davidson.edu/Applets/Ripple/Ripple.html
 Types Of Waves
 There are two types of waves:
 Transversewaves
 Longitudinal waves
 Transverse Waves
 The direction of vibration is perpendicular to
the direction of wave travel.
 Example of transverse waves:
water waves, electromagnetic waves

http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/wave/wave.html
 Longitudinal Waves
The direction of vibration is parallel to
the direction of wave travel.
 Example of longitudinal wave:
sound

http://www.explorescience.com/activities/Activity_page.cfm?ActivityID=50
 Parts of a Wave
Peak / crest

amplitude

One wavelength

trough
 Terms Meaning
Crests / trough The high points / low points in a wave
Amplitude Maximum displacement from rest position
Phase Two points that are moving in the same direction
at the same speed and having the same
displacement from rest
Wavelength Shortest distance between two points in phase
Frequency Number of complete waves produced in 1 second
Period Time taken to produce 1 complete wave
Wave speed Distance travelled by the wave in 1 second.
Unit: ms-1
 Terms Units
Amplitude Metres (m)

Wavelength Metres (m)

Frequency Hertz (Hz)

Period Seconds (s)

Wave speed Metres per second (m/s)

 Wave Equation

v=f
Speed of wave
[ms-1]
Frequency Wavelength
[m]
[Hz]
Example:
The speed of sound is 330 ms-1. If the wavelength of the sound was
4m, what was the frequency of the sound?

Solution:

v=f
330 = f (4)

f = 330/4 = 82.5 Hz
Relationship between T and f

1
T
f
Period
[s] Frequency
[Hz]
 What is “in phase” back

 Itis when 2 points on a wave are at the same

displacement, moving at the same speed in the
same direction.