WAVES: CARRIERS OF ENERGY

Definition
1. Wave is a disturbance that carries energy through matter or
space; pulses traveling at regular intervals
2. Medium the matter through which a wave travels
3. Pulse disturbance in the medium
Types of Waves according to Medium
1. Mechanical Waves require a medium
2. Electromagnetic Waves do not require a medium
Types of Waves according to the Number of Pulse
1. Pulse Wave consists of a single traveling pulse
2. Periodic Waves consist of pulses
Types of Waves according to Movement
1. Transverse Wave vibrations are at a right angle or
perpendicular to the direction of the wave (e.g., light waves and
other electromagnetic waves)
a. crest highest point
b. through lowest point
2. Longitudinal Wave the vibrations are along the direction of
the wave (e.g., sound waves)
a. compression region where the coil are pressed together
b. rarefaction- region where the coils spread out
3. Surface Wave combination of transverse and longitudinal
waves (e.g., water waves)
Measures of a Wave
1. Waveform a picture or graph of a wave
2. Amplitude displacement of particles of the medium from the
equilibrium position
a. The height of the crests and the troughs is equal to the
amplitude of the wave.
b. The amplitude depends on the amount of energy the wave is
carrying.

3. Wavelength distance between neighboring maximum

displacements; distance between two successive crests and
troughs or between two successive compressions or rarefactions

WAVE PROPERTIES AND INTERACTIONS

Reflection bouncing of waves on a surface with angle to the
normal.
1.
2.
3.
4.

incident ray ray that hits the barrier

reflected ray ray that is thrown back
normal line perpendicular to the reflecting surface
angle of incidence angle formed by the incident ray with the
normal
5. angle of reflection angle formed by the reflected ray with the
normal
Law of Reflection
1. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
2. The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal lie on a single
plane.
Examples:
1. Sound waves can bounce back as echoes from a wall.
2. Light waves may be reflected by smooth surface such as a mirror.
3. Radio waves are reflected by the ionosphere.
4. The moon reflects light from the sun.

Refraction bending of waves as they pass from one medium to

another
1. The bending is due to a change in speed as it passes from one
medium to another medium of different density.
2. The principle of refraction gives rise to apparent distortion of
objects submerged in water.
3. Water waves travel slower in shallow water than in deep water.
4. When the waves are moving from deep to shallow water, the
angle of incidence is greater than the angle of refraction.
5. When the waves are moving from shallow to deep water, the
angle of incidence is smaller than the angle of refraction.
6. If a wave slows down just after passing the boundary between
two media, the angle of refraction is less than the angle of
incidence. If the wave speeds up, the angle of refraction is
greater than the angle of incidence.

Diffraction bending of edge or corner as they pass an edge or

corner
1. The amount of diffraction is dependent on the wavelength and
size of the opening barrier.
2. Diffraction is only significant if the size of the opening is about
the size of the wavelength.
3. Larger opening produce less diffraction.

Interference and Superposition

1. Interference interaction that occurs when two waves meet
2. Superposition Principle when two waves meet while
traveling through a medium at the same time, the result is a
wave whose displacement is equal to the vector sum if the
displacement of the two waves
Two Types of Interference
1. Constructive the crest of one wave meets the crests of other
waves, and the troughs of one wave meets the other; the
amplitude of the resulting wave will be twice the original wave
2. Destructive the crests of one wave meet the troughs of the
other; the amplitude of the resulting wave is zero

Standing Waves and Natural Frequency

1. Standing/Stationary Waves result from the interference of
waves of identical wavelength, amplitude and speed traveling in
opposite directions
a. node point on the standing wave that always undergoes
destructive interference and with zero amplitude
b. antinode point halfway between two nodes at which the
maximum amplitude occurs

2. Natural/Resonant Frequencies frequencies at which large

amplitude standing waves are produced
Examples:
string

plucking a guitar, bowing a violin, striking piano

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