9) Waves

Content:i)Transverse and longitudinal wave

ii) Progressive wave
iii)Determination of speed,frequency and
wavelength
iv)Polarisation
v)Electromagnetic spectrum
i)Transverse and longitudinal Waves
Transverse wave
For transverse waves the displacement of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of
propagation of the wave. A ripple on a pond and a wave on a string are easily visualized
transverse waves.

Transverse waves cannot propagate in a gas or a liquid because there is no mechanism for
driving motion perpendicular to the propagation of the wave.

Longitudinal Waves
In longitudinal waves the displacement of the medium is parallel to the propagation of the
wave. A wave in a "slinky" is a good visualization. Sound waves in air are longitudinal
waves.

ii)Progressive Waves
Elasticity and a source of energy are the preconditions for periodic motion, and when the
elastic object is an extended body, then the periodic motion takes the form of traveling
waves.

A pond has an equilibrium level, and gravity serves as

a restoring force. When work is done on the surface to
disturb its level, a transverse wave is produced.

A disturbance of the air pressure produces a spherical

traveling pressure wave (sound). A sound wave in air
is a longitudinal wave.

Waves on a Pond

A pebble thrown into a pond will produce

concentric circular ripples, which
move outward from the point of
impact. If a fishing float is in the
water, the float will bob up and down
as the wave moves by. This is a
characteristic of transverse waves.
Such waves obey the wave
relationship.

The form of the dependence of the traveling wave parameters upon each other is a
consequence of the basic motion equation and the definitions of the terms which describe
periodic motion. The description of water waves above is greatly oversimplified to
demonstrate the nature of sinusoidal transverse waves. Waves on the ocean are much
more complex, involving a circulation of the water as the wave passes so that the actual
water motion is not just simple harmonic motion

Wave Graphs
Waves may be graphed as a function of time or distance. A single frequency wave will
appear as a sine wave in either case. From the distance graph the wavelength may be
determined. From the time graph, the period and frequency can be obtained. From both
together, the wave speed can be determined.

Any of the wave parameters below can be changed.

When you have finished entering data, click on the
quantity you wish to calculate. The quantities will not be
forced to be consistent until you click on the desired
quantity.

Property of progressive wave

A wave or wavelike disturbance which moves relative to the earth's surface.
A wave which transfers energy from one part of a medium to another, in
contrast to a standing wave.
Also known as free-traveling wave.

iii) Determination of speed, frequency and wavelength

Description of Periodic Motion
Vibrations/Oscillations, which repeats itself precisely, can be described with the
following terms:

Period(T): the time required to complete a full cycle, in seconds/cycle

Frequency(f): the number of cycles per second, in 1/seconds or Hertz (Hz)

Amplitude(A): the maximum displacement from equilibrium
Wavelength( ): The distance between the two adjacent points on the wavefront
which are in phase.
Phase difference: The time laps between two waves meets a point. The unit is
radian . Two oscillators that have the same frequency and different phases have a
phase difference, and the oscillators are said to be out of phase with each other.
The amount by which such oscillators are out of step with each other can be
expressed in degrees from 0 to 360, or in radians from 0 to 2. If the phase

difference is 180 degrees ( radians), then the two oscillators are said to be in
antiphase
e.g A displacement-time graph for a transverse wave is shown in the diagram.

The phase difference between X and Y can be expressed as n.

What is the value of n?
A 1.5
B 2.5
C 3.0
D 6.0
The intensity of a wave (I) is defined as the power per unit area

Wave Intensity I =

S.I. units are watts per m2.

For a spherical wave of radius r , the intensity is given by I

This is known as the inverse square law.

Intensity is also proportional to the square of the wave amplitude ( IA 2 )
when the amplitude become double, the intensity become four time greater than
initial intensity.
e.g: Find the intensity of a light bulb 5 metre away if the power emitted is 200W.

P
where P is power and A is area.
A

P
.
4r 2

e.g: A health inspector is measuring the intensity of a sound. Near a loudspeaker

his meter records an intensity I. This corresponds to an amplitude A of the
sound wave. At another position the meter gives an intensity reading of 2 .
What is the corresponding sound wave amplitude?

Period, Frequency and Amplitude

In a plot of periodic motion as a function of time, the period can be seen as the repeat
time for the motion. The frequency is the reciprocal of the period.

Traveling Wave Relationship

A single frequency-traveling wave will take the form of a sine wave. A snapshot of the
wave in space at an instant of time can be used to show the relationship of the wave
properties frequency, wavelength and propagation velocity.

The motion relationship "distance = velocity x time" is the key to the basic wave
relationship. With the wavelength as distance, this relationship becomes V=f . Then
using f=1/T gives the standard wave relationship

This is a general wave relationship, which applies to sound and light waves, other
electromagnetic waves, and waves in mechanical media.
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iv)Polarization

Process which a waves oscillations are made to occur in one plane

Associated with transverse wave only
Longitudinal wave cannot be polarized
Only polarization can differentiate between transverse wave and longitudinal
wave.

V) Electromagnetic wave

In a vacuum, they all travel at the same speed . the speed of light(3x108 ms-1)
which is c=f
c=f
They are all transverse waves,, with the oscillations being electric and magnetic
fields.
they can be reflected and diffracted..

gamma ray
The highest energy, shortest wavelength electromagnetic radiations. Usually, they are
thought of as any photons having energies greater than about 100 keV. Gamma rays are
emitted by some radioactive nuclei, and are also produced during supernova explosions
X-ray
Electromagnetic radiation of very short wavelength and very high-energy; X-rays have
shorter wavelengths than ultraviolet light but longer wavelengths than gamma rays.
doctor uses them to look at your bones and your dentist to look at your teeth. Produced
when high velocity electrons strike a metallic target
ultraviolet
Electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths shorter than the violet end of visible light; the
atmosphere of the Earth effectively blocks the transmission of most ultraviolet light.
Produced when electrons jump from a relatively high excited states to a low excited states
within atoms n molecules emitted from the sun

visible
Electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths which the human eye can see. We perceive this
radiation as colors ranging from red (longer wavelengths; ~ 700 nanometers) to violet
(shorter wavelengths; ~400 nanometers.)
infrared
Electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths longer than the red end of visible light and
shorter than microwaves (roughly between 1 and 100 microns). Almost none of the
infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum can reach the surface of the Earth,
although some portions can be observed by high-altitude aircraft or telescopes on high
mountaintops . Generated by vibration and rotation of atoms & molecules.detectable by
our skin as heat radiation keeps the earth warm .
microwave
Electromagnetic radiation which has a longer wavelength (between 1 mm and 30 cm)
than visible light. Microwaves can be used to study the Universe, communicate with
satellites in Earth orbit, and cook popcorn. Used in radar, communications, broadcasting
and preparation of food
radio
Electromagnetic radiation which has the lowest frequency, the longest wavelength, and is
produced by charged particles moving back and forth; the atmosphere of the Earth is
transparent to radio waves with wavelengths from a few millimeters to about twenty
meters. used in telecommunications (radio and TV broadcasts, as well as portable phones
and walkie talkies).