Scribd
Upload
50 views18 pages

Understanding Waves: Types and Properties

A wave is a disturbance that carries energy through matter or space, categorized into mechanical waves, which require a medium, and electromagnetic waves, which do not. Key characteristics of waves include amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period, with wave interactions resulting in constructive or destructive interference. Additionally, standing waves occur due to the repeated pattern of interference between waves.

Uploaded by

them4tr1xneo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
50 views18 pages

Understanding Waves: Types and Properties

A wave is a disturbance that carries energy through matter or space, categorized into mechanical waves, which require a medium, and electromagnetic waves, which do not. Key characteristics of waves include amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period, with wave interactions resulting in constructive or destructive interference. Additionally, standing waves occur due to the repeated pattern of interference between waves.

Uploaded by

them4tr1xneo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

What is a Wave?

• A disturbance that carries energy


through matter or space.
What is a Wave?
2 Categories
of Waves
• Mechanical Waves
– Require a medium (material)
to travel through
– Examples: water waves,
sound waves
• Electromagnetic Waves
– Do not require a medium
– Example: light travels
through empty space
Wave Description
• Crest
• Trough
• Amplitude
– Intensity of the wave.
– How much energy is transferred.
• Wavelength
– The distance from one point on
a wave to the same point on the
next wave.
Wave Description
• Frequency
• How frequently a wave pulse occurs.
– Unit
• Hertz (Hz)
• 1 Hz = 1/seconds or s-1
– Equation
¿ 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔
𝒇=
𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
Wave Description
• Period
• The time (in seconds) that it takes for one
wave to pass.
– Equation

𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
𝑻=
¿ 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔

• T = Period (in seconds)


Types of Waves
• Transverse Waves
– Matter moves perpendicular to the
direction of wave movement.
Types of Waves
• Longitudinal Waves
– Matter moves parallel to the direction of
wave movement.
Wave Speed
• Equation
v = wave velocity (in m/s)
f = frequency (in Hertz)
𝒗= 𝒇 𝝀 λ = wavelength (in meters)

• Examples
1. A wave with a wavelength of 2 meters
has a frequency of 50 Hertz. What is
the velocity of the wave?
• Answer: 100 m/s
Other Types of Waves!
• Surface (water) Waves
Other Types of Waves!
• Raleigh Waves
– Seismic (earthquake) waves.
Reflection

• Free end reflection


causes the pulse to
stay on the same
side

• Fixed end reflection


forces the pulse to
the other side
Wave Interactions
– When two (or more) waves are travelling
through the same medium they will
interact with each other.
– The net displacement is the sum of the
two waves.
Wave Interactions

• Constructive
Interference
– The two waves
are in-phase.
– The
Amplitudes
add
together.
Wave Interactions

• Destructive
Interference
– Waves are
out-of-phase.
– Amplitudes
“cancel out”
Wave
Interactions
• Example:
– Shown to the
right are four
different pairs of
wave pulses that
move toward and
interact with
each other. Rank,
from most to
least, the height
of the peak that
results when the
two pulses
coincide.
• Answer:
A,B,D,C
Standing
Waves

• A repeated wave
produces a
pattern caused by
the rotation of
constructive and
destructive
interference.
Standing Waves

You might also like