Wave Properties

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Wave Properties Types of Waves
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Wave

• Wave - Rhythmic disturbance that carries energy
  through matter and space
• ALL WAVES CARRY ENERGY!
• Pulse one wave that travels through a medium
• Continuous waves waves that repeatedly move up
  and down

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Transverse Waves

• Transverse waves matter in the medium moves
  back and forth at right angles to the direction
  that the wave travels.

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Parts of a Transverse Wave

• Crest top of a wave
• Trough bottom of a wave

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Parts of a Transverse Wave

• Amplitude ½ the height of a wave
• Relates to the amount of energy carried by the
  wave

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Parts of a Transverse Wave
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Parts of a Transverse Wave

• Wavelength the length of one cycle of a wave
• Abbreviated by using the symbol, ?

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Transverse Wave

• Frequency how many cycles (waves) are completed
  in a given time (usually 1 second)

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Compression/Longitudinal Waves

• Compressional waves matter in the medium moves
  in the same direction that the wave travels.
  Example Sound waves

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Parts of a compression wave
compression
Compression the area where the particles are
more dense
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Parts of a compression wave
Rarefaction The less dense area of the wave
Rarefaction
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Parts of a compression wave
Wavelength One complete cycle of a wave
?
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Surface Waves

• both transverse compressional
• examples water waves, seismic waves

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Medium

• Most waves need something to travel on (or
  through)
• The substance through which a wave travels is a
  medium

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Standing Waves

• Appear to be standing still
• Standing waves are caused by two waves
  continuously interfering with each other.

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Types of Waves
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Reflection

• The angle at which a ray strikes a surface is
  equal to the angle at which it is reflected

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Reflection
(line drawn perpendicular to the reflecting
surface
normal line
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Reflection
(ray striking a surface)
incident ray
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Reflection
(ray that bounces off of a surface)
Reflected ray
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Reflection
angle of incidence
angle of reflection
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Period and Frequency

• Period (T) time it takes for one wave to pass
• The unit of a period is the second (s)
• Frequency (f) the number of waves that pass
  each second
• The unit of frequency is Hertz (Hz)

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Formula 1

• Frequency 1/ period
• f 1/T

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Formula 2

• Frequency waves / time
• f waves / t

waves
f
t
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Formula 3

• Speed frequency x wavelength
• S f x ?

s
f
?