Waves

Objectives
• Investigate and analyze the characteristics of waves
including: velocity, frequency, amplitude, and
wavelength.

• Compare the characteristics and behaviors of transverse

waves and longitudinal waves.
Assessment
1. These graphs show the oscillation
of a point on a wave as a function
of time, and the oscillation of the
extended wave in space at a
moment in time.
a. What is the frequency?
b. What is the wavelength?
c. What is the amplitude?
d. Calculate the wave speed.
Assessment
2. Provide an example of a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.
Describe how they are similar and how they are different.

3. Describe, in your own words, how a sound speaker

moves to create sound waves.
Physics terms
• oscillation • transverse wave

• wave • longitudinal wave

• wavelength • polarization

• frequency

• amplitude
Equations

Wave velocity equals the frequency

multiplied by the wavelength.
What is a wave?

Drop a pebble on a pond on a calm day.

As the pebble breaks the surface, the

water oscillates up and down—in
harmonic motion.

Ripples form and spread out.

An oscillation that travels is a wave.

Waves and energy

Waves are an essential way in

which energy travels from one
place to another.

Waves propagate through space,

spreading energy out to other
regions which may be quite far
away.
Waves in time and space
A wave oscillates up and down
over time at a given point in space.
Waves in time and space
A wave oscillates up and down The wave’s oscillations extend
over time at a given point in space. in space at any instant in time.
Exploring the ideas
In Investigation 15 A
you will explore the
wave properties of
amplitude, wavelength,
and frequency.

Click to open
the interactive
simulation.
Investigation
Part 1: Match a wave’s properties

This simulation allows you to

overlay a mathematical model
of a wave on a plotted blue
wave representing water.

When you match the wave’s

characteristics, your
mathematical wave model will
move with the blue wave.
Investigation
Part 1: Match a wave’s properties
1. Open the simulation. You will
create a model of a wave (red line)
to match the blue waves.

2. Adjust amplitude and wavelength

to match the blue wave.

3. Run and Pause the waves.

Adjust the frequency until the
bobbing red circle matches the
bobbing of the floating ball.
Investigation
Questions for Part 1
a. Describe how changing the
amplitude changes the wave.

b. Describe the effect of changing the

wavelength.

c. Describe the effect of changing the

frequency.

d. What are the frequency, amplitude,

and wavelength of the blue wave?
Investigation
Questions for Part 1
e. Draw a graph showing the
amplitude and wavelength of this
wave.

f. Calculate the speed of the wave.

How does your calculated speed
agree with the observed movement
of the wave fronts across the
screen?
Investigation
Part 2: Transverse and longitudinal waves
1. Hold one end of a long spring and
have your partner hold the other end.
Stretch the spring so it is not slack.
2. Create transverse waves by moving
your hand side-to-side.
3. Create longitudinal waves by moving
your hand sharply towards your
partner.
4. Repeat using a wave motion rope or
other heavy string.
Investigation
Questions for Part 2
a. What are the differences between
these two types of waves? Describe
the characteristics of each in words.

b. Can you make both types of waves

on both pieces of equipment?
Why or why not?

c. Can you create waves of different

velocities with the spring or rope?
If so, how?
Amplitude
The amplitude A of a wave is the
maximum amount the water rises
or falls compared to its average A
resting level.

The amplitude of different types of

waves may have different units:

• Water wave amplitude is a distance, in meters.

• Sound wave amplitude is a pressure, in pascals.
Wavelength
The wavelength λ is the λ
distance a wave travels before
it begins to repeat itself.

The wavelength can be

measured from peak to peak,
or trough to trough.

How many wavelengths

appear in this figure?
Frequency
The frequency f of a wave is a measure
of how quickly it oscillates.

The unit for frequency is the hertz, or Hz.

One hertz equals one cycle per second.

Frequency
When a wave has a frequency of 10 Hz = 10 cycles/second,
then 10 waves travel past a given point each second.

What is the frequency of the wave shown below?

Frequency
When a wave has a frequency of 10 Hz = 10 cycles/second,
then 10 waves travel past a given point each second.

What is the frequency of the wave shown below? 2 Hz

Frequency
The frequency of a wave conveys information.
• the frequency of a light wave determines its color.
• the frequency of a sound wave determines its pitch.

Frequency remains the same even if the wave amplitude

decreases as it spreads out.
Wave speed
The speed of a wave depends on the
type of wave and on its medium.

Examples:
• speed of typical water waves: 5 m/s

• speed of sound in air: 343 m/s

• speed of light: 300,000,000 m/s

(in a vacuum)
Wave speed
As a wave moves forward, it
advances one wavelength with
each complete cycle.

distance:
Wave speed
As a wave moves forward, it
advances one wavelength with
each complete cycle.

distance:

speed:
Wave speed
As a wave moves forward, it
advances one wavelength with
each complete cycle.

distance:

speed:

frequency:
Wave speed
As a wave moves forward, it
advances one wavelength with
each complete cycle.

distance:

speed:

frequency:

wave speed:
Exploring the ideas

Click on this
calculator
on page 413
Engaging with the concepts
A water wave has a speed
of 5.0 m/s and a wavelength
of 2.0 m. What is its
frequency?

Frequency

5.0 2.0
Engaging with the concepts
A water wave has a speed
of 5.0 m/s and a wavelength
of 2.0 m. What is its
frequency? 2.5 hertz

Frequency

5.0 2.5 2.0

Find two different ways to

get a speed of 100 m/s.
Engaging with the concepts
A water wave has a speed
of 5.0 m/s and a wavelength
of 2.0 m. What is its
frequency? 2.5 hertz

Speed of wave

100 25 4.0

Find two different ways to

get a speed of 100 m/s.
There are many
correct answers!
Engaging with the concepts
A sound wave has a speed
of 343 m/s in air. What is the
wavelength of a sound wave
with frequency of 686 Hz?

Wavelength

343 686
Engaging with the concepts
A sound wave has a speed
of 343 m/s in air. What is the
wavelength of a sound wave
with frequency of 686 Hz?
λ = 50 cm
Wavelength

What happens if frequency

is doubled? 343 686 0.50

Increase the volume. What

wave characteristic is
affected?
Engaging with the concepts
A sound wave has a speed
of 343 m/s in air. What is the
wavelength of a sound wave
with frequency of 686 Hz?
λ = 50 cm
Wavelength

What happens if frequency

is doubled? Pitch increases 343 137 0.25
2
and wavelength is halved.
Increase the volume. What
wave characteristic is
affected? the amplitude
Test your knowledge

This wave’s motion is graphed as a function of time and distance.

a. What is the wave frequency?
b. What is the wavelength?
c. What is the amplitude?
d. Calculate the speed of the wave.
Test your knowledge

This wave’s motion is graphed as a function of time and distance.

a. What is the wave frequency? 1 Hz
b. What is the wavelength? 5 cm
c. What is the amplitude? 10 cm
d. Calculate the speed of the wave. 5 cm/s (0.05 m/s)
Test your knowledge
Two students use a 10-meter-long spring to create a standing
wave. The wavelength is 2.0 m and the frequency is 2.0 Hz.

How fast is the wave traveling along the spring?

Asked: speed v

Given:

Relationship:

Solution:
Test your knowledge
Two students use a 10-meter-long spring to create a standing
wave. The wavelength is 2.0 m and the frequency is 2.0 Hz.

How fast is the wave traveling along the spring?

Asked: speed v

Given:

Relationship:

Solution:
Wave energy
A wave is an organized mechanism
for transferring energy.

• As a wave moves through matter,

its energy causes the matter to
respond.

• After the wave passes, the matter

returns to equilibrium.
Energy and frequency
The energy of a wave increases with frequency:

lower energy

low frequency
(slower oscillations)
long wavelength
Energy and frequency
The energy of a wave increases with frequency:

lower energy higher energy

low frequency high frequency

(slower oscillations) (faster oscillations)
long wavelength short wavelength
Energy and amplitude
The energy of a wave also increases with amplitude:

lower energy

small amplitude
Energy and amplitude
The energy of a wave also increases with amplitude:

lower energy higher energy

small amplitude large amplitude

Energy and amplitude
As a wave spreads out, its amplitude decreases.

• One reason is damping; friction

reduces the wave’s energy over time.
Energy and amplitude
As a wave spreads out, its amplitude decreases.

• One reason is damping; friction

reduces the wave’s energy over time.

• Another reason is that as the wave

propagates outward, its energy is
spread over a larger area.
Test your knowledge
Although speech gets quieter farther
from its source, the words and tone
stay the same. Why?
Test your knowledge
Although speech gets quieter farther
from its source, the words and tone
stay the same. Why?

As the wave spreads out the amplitude

of the sound waves is reduced, but the
frequency remains constant.

The waves still transfer the same

information, even though they have
less energy.
Waves in 3-D space
Waves can cause oscillations
in three dimensions.

The direction of motion of the

wave is defined as the
forward dimension.

The other two dimensions

(left-right and up-down) are
perpendicular to the direction
of motion.
Transverse waves
A transverse wave causes
oscillations that are
perpendicular to the forward
motion of the wave.

Examples:
• waves in a string
• light waves
Transverse waves
Transverse waves can oscillate in
any direction that is perpendicular
to the direction the wave is
traveling!

Try creating both vertically and

horizontally oscillating transverse
waves using a wave motion rope.
Longitudinal waves
A longitudinal wave causes
oscillations that move back and
forth in the same direction as
the traveling wave.

Examples:
• sound waves
• the waves in a spring as
shown in this figure Move a Slinky® rapidly forward
and back to create a longitudinal
compression wave.
Longitudinal waves
Polarization
Polarization describes the direction of
the oscillation in a plane perpendicular
to the wave velocity.

The wave in this figure is polarized. It

is traveling in the z-direction and its
oscillations occur only in the y-
direction—not in the x-direction.
Polarization
What kind of waves can be polarized?
Transverse waves? longitudinal waves?
or both types?
Polarization
What kind of waves can be polarized?
Transverse waves? longitudinal waves?
or both types?

• Transverse waves, such as light

waves, can be polarized.

• Longitudinal waves, such as

sound waves, cannot be polarized.
Assessment
1. These graphs show the oscillation
of a point on a wave as a function
of time, and the oscillation of the
extended wave in space at a
moment in time.
a. What is the frequency?
b. What is the wavelength?
c. What is the amplitude?
d. Calculate the wave speed.
Assessment
1. These graphs show the oscillation
of a point on a wave as a function
of time, and the oscillation of the
extended wave in space at a
moment in time.
a. What is the frequency? 0.5 Hz
b. What is the wavelength? 20 cm
c. What is the amplitude? 0.5 cm
d. Calculate the wave speed.
Assessment
2. Provide an example of a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.
Describe how they are similar and how they are different.
Assessment
2. Provide an example of a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.
Describe how they are similar and how they are different.

Each wave is an oscillation that transfers energy.

Waves in a string are transverse waves. Each segment of the string

oscillates perpendicular to the forward motion of the wave.

Sound is a longitudinal wave. The air molecules oscillate back and

forth, parallel to the direction of the wave’s forward motion.
Assessment
3. Describe, in your own words, how a sound
speaker moves to create sound waves.
Assessment
3. Describe, in your own words, how a sound
speaker moves to create sound waves.

A sound speaker oscillates back and forth to

create sound waves, which are longitudinal
compression waves.