PHYSICS – General Wave Properties

Ms Camelia
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Core Supplement
• Demonstrate understanding that
waves transfer energy without
transferring matter
• Describe what is meant by wave
motion as illustrated by vibration in
ropes and springs and by
experiments using water waves
• Use the term wavefront
• Give the meaning of speed, • Recall and use the equation v = f λ
frequency, wavelength and
amplitude
• Distinguish between transverse
and longitudinal waves and give
suitable examples • Describe how wavelength and gap
size affects diffraction through a gap
• Describe how waves can undergo:
• Describe how wavelength affects
– reflection at a plane surface – diffraction at an edge
refraction due to a change of speed –
diffraction through a narrow gap
• Describe the use of water waves to
demonstrate reflection, refraction
and diffraction
4 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006
What are transverse waves?
When the surface of this lake
is disturbed, waves spread out
across the surface of the water.
Water waves are an example
of transverse waves.
In a transverse wave, the
particles move up and down,
so the direction of their
movement is at right angles
to the direction of the wave.
Think about this boat bobbing
up and down in the same place
as the water waves pass by!

5 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

 What do transverse waves look like?
A Slinky can be used to model transverse waves, by moving
one end of the Slinky up and down.
coils vibrate
source moves up and down
up and down

direction of wave

The wave travels away from the source. The direction of the
wave is at right angles to the movement of the source.
In a transverse wave, the coils do not travel horizontally,
each coil of the Slinky just vibrates up and down.

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What are the parts of a transverse wave?
Certain parts of a transverse wave have special names.
The high points of a transverse wave are called peaks and
the low points of a transverse wave are called troughs.
peak

trough
Water waves and electromagnetic waves, such as light, are
examples of transverse waves.
S waves, the secondary waves produced by earthquakes are
transverse waves, which shake the Earth from side to side.

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 Transverse Longitudinal

Use the words and drawings from the slide onto your Venn diagram.
 matter is not
Particles vibrate at right angles to the transferred
direction in which the wave moves.

electromagnetic radiation
sound
Mexican wave seismic waves

water waves transfer of energy

medium

slinky movement Particles of the medium are temporarily

displaced.

Particles of the medium vibrate in the

same direction as the wave moves.

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Wavelength of a transverse wave
The wavelength of any wave is the distance between two
matching points on neighbouring waves.

wavelength

wavelength

wavelength
The wavelength is the same whichever two matching points
are used to measure this distance.
The symbol used to represent wavelength is .

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Amplitude of a transverse wave
The amplitude of any wave is the maximum distance a point
moves from its rest position.

amplitude

amplitude
The amplitude of a transverse wave is the height of a peak
or trough from the wave’s rest position of the wave.
The larger the amplitude, greater the energy of the wave.

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What are longitudinal waves?

PAT ARTWORK PC14_2 Sound travels as waves made

up of vibrating air particles.
Sound waves are an example
of longitudinal waves.
In a longitudinal wave, the
particles vibrate back and forth,
so the direction of their
movement is parallel to the
direction of the wave.
Think about the hairs on this
fluffy cat vibrating backwards
and forwards, as sound waves
from the speaker pass by!

12 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

What do longitudinal waves look like?
A Slinky can be used to model longitudinal waves, by moving
one end of the Slinky left and right.
source moves coils vibrate
left and right left and right

direction of wave

The wave travels away from the source. The direction of the
wave is parallel to the movement of the source.
In a longitudinal wave, the coils do not travel horizontally,
each coil of the Slinky just vibrates left and right.

13 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Wavelength of a longitudinal wave
The wavelength of any wave is the distance between two
matching points on neighbouring waves.
wavelength

wavelength

The wavelength is the same whichever two matching points

are used to measure this distance.
The symbol used to represent wavelength is .

14 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

mplitude of longitudinal waves is
easure of how compressed or
arefied the medium becomes
ery crowded = large amplitude
 Transverse Wave

Longitudinal Wave

The crest of a transverse wave is

similar to the compression of a
longitudinal wave. Trough/rarefaction
Frequency of transverse waves
The frequency is he number of complete waves passing a
point each second.
Or the number of vibrations(oscillations) per second
 frequency = number of waves past a point / time
 frequency is measured in hertz (Hz)
 1 wave per second = 1 Hz

If this set of transverse waves pass a point in one second,

what is the frequency? 4 Hz

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Frequency of waves – activity

18 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Core Supplement
• Demonstrate understanding that
waves transfer energy without
transferring matter
• Describe what is meant by wave
motion as illustrated by vibration in
ropes and springs and by
experiments using water waves
• Use the term wavefront
• Give the meaning of speed, • Recall and use the equation v = f λ
frequency, wavelength and
amplitude
• Distinguish between transverse
and longitudinal waves and give
suitable examples • Describe how wavelength and gap
size affects diffraction through a gap
• Describe how waves can undergo:
• Describe how wavelength affects
– reflection at a plane surface – diffraction at an edge
refraction due to a change of speed –
diffraction through a narrow gap
• Describe the use of water waves to
demonstrate reflection, refraction
and diffraction
Looking at Waves
We can study the properties of waves by
using a ripple tank.
Paddle
vibrates to
produce
waves.

wavefronts

A ripple tank
produces
water waves
[Link]
that can be
reflected,
refracted and
diffracted.
 Wavefronts
Waves can be drawn using lines called wavefronts. Each
wavefront is the peak of a transverse wave or the
compression of a longitudinal wave..
wave
wave direction
direction

circular
one wavefronts
wavelength

ray
direction
Looking at Waves
We can study the properties of waves by
using a ripple tank.

If a plain
barrier is put
in the way
[Link]
then the
waves are
reflected.
Looking at Waves
We can study the properties of waves by
using a ripple tank.
The block
makes the
water
more
shallow
which
slows the
waves
down.
If a block is
submerged in
the tank then
[Link]
the waves
are refracted.
Looking at Waves
We can study the properties of waves by
using a ripple tank.

If there is a
gap in the
barrier then
the waves
will be
reflected – if
the gap is
smaller than
the
wavelength
[Link]
of the waves.
Looking at Waves
We can study the properties of waves by
using a ripple tank.

However, if
the gap in
the barrier is
similar in
width to the
wavelength
of the wave,
then the
wavefronts
are
[Link]
diffracted.
Looking at Waves
We can study the properties of waves by
using a ripple tank.

If the gap in
the barrier is
larger than
the
wavelength
of the waves,
then the
wave will
pass through
unchanged
[Link]
apart from
slight
diffraction at
the edges.
Looking at Waves
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Core Supplement
• Demonstrate understanding that
waves transfer energy without
transferring matter
• Describe what is meant by wave
motion as illustrated by vibration in
ropes and springs and by
experiments using water waves
• Use the term wavefront
• Give the meaning of speed, • Recall and use the equation v = f λ
frequency, wavelength and
amplitude
• Distinguish between transverse
and longitudinal waves and give
suitable examples • Describe how wavelength and gap
size affects diffraction through a gap
• Describe how waves can undergo:
• Describe how wavelength affects
– reflection at a plane surface – diffraction at an edge
refraction due to a change of speed –
diffraction through a narrow gap
• Describe the use of water waves to
demonstrate reflection, refraction
and diffraction
 The wave
equation
Linking together
speed,
frequency and
wavelength.

Speed = frequency x
wavelength (λ = Greek letter
v = fλ lambda)

m/s Hz m
 The wave
equation
Linking together
speed,
frequency and
wavelength.

Example 2: a wave
Example 1: a wave
has a frequency of 10
has a wavelength of
Hz. Calculate the
12m. Calculate the
wavelength if it has a
wave speed if it has a
wave speed of 50
frequency of 20 Hz.
m/s.
v = fλ
v = fλ
v = 20 x 12
λ = v / f
v = 240 m/s
λ = 50 / 10
λ = 5m
The wave
equation

Linking together
speed,

v
frequency and
wavelength.

Example 1: a wave has a Example 2: a wave has a

wavelength of 12m. Calculate frequency of 10 Hz. Calculate the
the wave speed if it has a wavelength if it has a wave speed
frequency of 20 Hz.
v = fλ
v = 20 x 12
v = 240 m/s
f λ
of 50 m/s.
v = fλ
λ = v / f
λ = 50 / 10
λ = 5m
 Remember! The frequency (in
Hz) is the number of oscillations
per second.
The period (in seconds) is the
time for one complete oscillation.

Frequency = 1

period

For example, if five complete waves pass a

given point in one second (i.e. five
complete oscillations) then the frequency
is ?? Hz.
PHYSICS – General Wave Properties
Ms Camelia