Physics F5/waves motion 201

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Transverse Waves Longitudinal Waves
Produced by Produced by vibrating system
Example Water, light sound
,electromagnetic
Waves Motion Up and down Right and left
(Particle moves)
Energy transfer Waves transfer energy as The air particle transfers
they move along the energy to the next particle
water particles. but stays about its initial
However the waves do position.
not carry the water As the waves passes
particles along with them. through the air, energy is
So, waves transfer energy transferred without the
without transferring transferring of mater.
matter
What is the direction To the right To the right
of propagation of the
waves?
Particles vibrate up and Particles vibrate back and
What is the direction of down forth.
vibration of the spring
particle?
Both are perpendicular or Both are parallel to each
right angle to each other=longitudinal waves
other= transverse waves ## longitudinal waves
cannot propogate through a
vacuum.
General Wave Properties

wavefront An imaginary surface Draw

joining all points in space
that are reached at the
same instant by a wave
propagating through a
medium.
Relate wavefront and The direction of Draw
direction of propagation of waves is
propogation perpendicular to the
wavefronts

Define amplitude a, The maximum Draw

displacement from the
equilibrium position .
Unit:metre (m)
Example:
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Define period T, time taken for one

complete oscilation.
Unit: second(s)
T= time taken
No.of complete oscillations

Define frequency f, The number of complete

oscillations made in one
second.
Unit: Hertz(Hz) or
per second(s-1)
f= no. of complete
oscillation
time taken

so f = 1
T
Define wavelength ƛ , the distance between Draw
two consecutives points
which are in phase.
Unit: metre(m)
Transverse wave, the wave
length can be measured
from one crest of the wave
to the next crest or also be
the distance from one
trough to the next trough.

Longitudinal wave, the

wavelength is the distance
between two consecutive
compressions or
rarefactions.
Define wave speed V, Distance travelled by a
wave per unit time.
Unit: metre per second(ms-
1)

Graph for a waves

Sketch and interprete Displacement-time graph Displacement-distance

graph
Draw(sinusoidal graph) Draw(sinusoidal graph)

Can obtain: amplitude and Can obtain: amplitude and

period wavelength
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Relationship between V=fƛ
speed, wavelength When wave move at
and Frequency constant speed, increasing
the frequency will result a
decrease in wave length.
When wave move at
constant speed ,decreasing
the frequency will result in
an increasing in the
wavelength.

Damping and Resonance in an Oscillating System

Damping
When damping occurs in
an oscillating system,
energy is lost to
surroundings, As the
result, the amplitude
becomes smaller, the
pendulum is said to
experience damping.
Resonance
As the vibration system
begins to vibrate, the
surrounding air molecules
will begin to vibrate with
same frequency.
Energy is transferred to the
second system causing it to
vibrate at its natural
frequency.
When this happens the
second system is said to be
in resonance .

Reflection of waves

Angle of incidence Angle of incidence i , Draw

Angle of reflection equals the angle of
reflection r .This known as
the Law of Reflection

wavelength Remains constant f and ƛ kept constant, the

frequency Remains constant speed also remains
speed Remains constant constant.
V=fƛ
Direction of Changes in direction
propagation

Refraction of waves( The change in direction due to the change in the speed of
the waves)

Angle of incidence Not equal Draw

Angle of reflection
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wavelength Change in V=fƛ

wavelength f is constant, ƛ decrease
frequency Remains constant thus
speed Change in speed v decrease
The speed depends
on the depth of water
or density of medium.
Shallow water- shows
wavelength decrease
Direction of Chanage in direction Draw
propagation (when increase in
speed direction of
propagation of
refracted waves will
bent away from
normal)
(When decrease in
speed, the direction
of propagation of
refracted waves will
bent towards normal)

Refraction of waves

Interference

Diffraction