WAVES

WAVE
A wave is the vibration or disturbance that travelling through a medium or
vacuum from one place to other by transferring the energy without
transferring matter. Wave motion transfers energy from one point to
another, often with no permanent displacement of the particles of the
medium.
CLASSIFICATION OF WAVE
 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

Waves that can travel through a

vacuum (empty space). They don't
need a medium or matter. They
travel through electrical and
magnetic fields that are generated
by charged particles. Examples of
electromagnetic waves include
light, microwaves, radio waves,
and X-rays.
 MECHANICAL WAVES
A mechanical wave is a wave that is
not capable of transmitting its
energy through a vacuum.
Mechanical waves require a
medium in order to transport their
energy from one location to
another. A sound wave is an
example of a mechanical wave.
Sound waves are incapable of
traveling through a vacuum.
TRANSVERSE WAVES

Transverse waves are

waves where the
disturbance moves
perpendicular to the
direction of the wave. One
example of a transverse
wave is a water wave.
 LONGITUDINAL WAVES

Longitudinal waves are waves where the oscillations are parallel to the direction of
propagation. Example of this wave is wave moving through a stretched spring, sound wave.
 PHASE VELOCITY AND GROUP VELOCITY
The phase velocity is the
velocity at which the phase of
any one frequency component
of the wave will propagate.

If several waves of different wavelengths

(frequencies) and phases are superposed
together, one would get a resultant which is
a localized wave packet. This is the velocity
at which the overall shape of the wave’s
amplitudes, or the wave ‘envelope’,
propagates.
 PROGRESSIVE WAVES

A progressive wave is a
disturbance which travels
through a medium with time
and transfers energy from one
point to another, often with no
permanent displacement of the
particles of the medium
without attenuation. For
example, sound waves
propagate via air molecules
pumping into their neighbors.
Let a progressive wave originating at O travels with velocity v
along the positive X axis. Consider a particle 𝑂 in the medium. The
equation of motion of this particle at O given by, 𝑦 = 𝑎 sin(𝜔𝑡+𝜑)
y=0 at t=0, we have, 𝜑 = 0
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 … … … (𝑖)

Where 𝑎 is the amplitude,  is the angular frequency of the wave.

Consider another particle 𝑃 at a distance 𝑥 from the particle 𝑂 on

its right. Let the wave travel with a velocity 𝑣 from left to right.
Since it takes some time for the disturbance to reach 𝑃, its
displacement can be written as,
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡 − 𝜑 … … … (𝑖𝑖)

Where,  is the phase difference between the particles O and P. If Path difference λ the phase
difference is 2𝜋
We know that a path difference of  corresponds to a phase ……………..1 ………………… 𝜆
2𝜋

difference of 2𝜋 radians. Hence a path difference of 𝑥 corresponds

2𝜋
……………x……….. 2𝜋𝜆 𝑥
to a phase difference of 𝑥
𝜆
2𝜋
𝜑= 𝑥 … … … 𝑖𝑖𝑖
𝜆
Substituting equation (iii) in equation (ii), we get,
2𝜋𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡 − … … … (𝑖𝑖𝑖)
𝜆
2𝜋
Let, 𝑘 = , this is known as the wave number.
𝜆
∴ 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥 … … … (𝑖𝑣)
2𝜋
Since 𝜔 = , again from (iii) we get,
𝑇
2𝜋 2𝜋𝑥
∴ 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑡−
𝑇 𝜆
𝑡 𝑥
𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜋 −
𝑇 𝜆
𝑥
𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜋 𝑓𝑡 −
𝜆
𝑣 𝑥
𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜋 𝑡 −
𝜆 𝜆
2𝜋
∴ 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥
𝜆
Similarly, If the wave travels in the negative X direction, the equation of a progressive wave is,
2𝜋
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 + 𝑥
𝜆
Transverse Displacement of a Progressive Wave is Periodic as the Function of Position

Consider,
𝑡 𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝑎 sin 2𝜋 −
𝑇 𝜆
Now,
𝑡 𝑥+𝜆
𝑦 𝑥 + 𝜆, 𝑡 = 𝑎 sin 2𝜋 −
𝑇 𝜆
𝑡 𝑥
= 𝑎 sin 2𝜋 − −1
𝑇 𝜆
2𝜋𝑡 2𝜋𝑥
= 𝑎 sin − − 2𝜋
𝑇 𝜆
2𝜋𝑥 2𝜋𝑡
= −𝑎 sin 2𝜋 + −
𝜆 𝑇
2𝜋𝑥 2𝜋𝑡
= −𝑎 sin −
𝜆 𝑇
𝑡 𝑥
= 𝑎 sin 2𝜋 −
𝑇 𝜆
𝑖. 𝑒. 𝑦 𝑥 + 𝜆, 𝑡 = 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡)
Thus, 𝜆 is a period of this progressive wave.
Transverse Displacement of a Progressive Wave is Periodic as the Function of Time

The transverse displacement 𝑦 at any given position 𝑥 has the same value at 𝑡, 𝑡 + 𝑇, 𝑡 + 2𝑇 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜 𝑜𝑛.
Consider,
𝑡 𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝑎 sin 2𝜋 −
𝑇 𝜆
Now,
𝑡+𝑇 𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 + 𝑇 = 𝑎 sin 2𝜋 −
𝑇 𝜆
𝑡 𝑥
= 𝑎 sin 2𝜋 +1−
𝑇 𝜆
2𝜋𝑡 2𝜋𝑥
= 𝑎 sin + 2𝜋 −
𝑇 𝜆
2𝜋𝑡 2𝜋𝑥
= 𝑎 sin 2𝜋 + −
𝑇 𝜆
2𝜋𝑡 2𝜋𝑥
= 𝑎 sin −
𝑇 𝜆
𝑡 𝑥
= 𝑎 sin 2𝜋 −
𝑇 𝜆
𝑖. 𝑒. 𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 + 𝑇 = 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡)
Thus, 𝑇 is a period of this progressive wave.
The Differential Equation of Wave Motion

The general equation of a plane progressive wave can be represented as,

𝑦 = 𝑎 sin 𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥 … … … (𝑖)
Differentiating (i) with respect to time,
𝜕𝑦
= 𝜔𝑎 cos(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)
𝜕𝑡
Differentiating again with respect to time,
𝜕2𝑦 2 𝑎 sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)
= −𝜔
𝜕𝑡 2
𝜕2𝑦
⇒ 2 = −𝜔2 𝑦
𝜕𝑡
1 𝜕2𝑦
∴ 𝑦 = − 2 2 … … … (𝑖𝑖)
𝜔 𝜕𝑡
Differentiating (i) with respect to 𝑥,
𝜕𝑦
= −𝑘𝑎 cos(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)
𝜕𝑥
Differentiating again with 𝑥,
𝜕2𝑦
2 = −𝑘 2 𝑎 sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)
𝜕𝑥
𝜕2𝑦 2
2 = −𝑘 𝑦
The Differential Equation of Wave Motion

1 𝜕2𝑦
∴ 𝑦 = − 2 2 … … … (𝑖𝑖𝑖)
𝑘 𝜕𝑥

From eqn (ii) and (iii) we get,

𝜕2𝑦 𝑘2 𝜕2𝑦
=
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜔 2 𝜕𝑡 2

𝜕2𝑦 1 𝜕2𝑦 𝜔
∴ 2= 2 2 𝑎𝑠, 𝑣 =
𝜕𝑥 𝑣 𝜕𝑡 𝑘

This equation is referred to as the differential equation of a plane or one-dimensional progressive wave.
 STATIONARY WAVE
Stationary waves are formed in a medium when
two waves having equal amplitude and frequency
moving in opposite directions along the same line,
interfere in a confined space. Generally, such waves
are formed by the superposition of a forward wave
and the reflected wave. Both longitudinal and
transverse types of waves can form a stationary
wave.
 2𝜋
(a)Incident wave, 𝑦1 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥
𝜆

2𝜋
Reflected wave 𝑦2 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 + 𝑥
𝜆

2𝜋
(b)Incident wave, 𝑦1 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥
𝜆

2𝜋
Reflected wave 𝑦2 = −𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 + 𝑥
𝜆
Let the incident wave be represented by the equation
2𝜋
𝑦1 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥
𝜆
The reflected wave will have the same amplitude, velocity and wavelength. It can
be represented by
2𝜋
𝑦2 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 + 𝑥
𝜆
Hence, the resultant displacement of the particle due to these two disturbances
simultaneously is,
𝑦 = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥 + 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑡 + 𝑥
𝜆 𝜆
 2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑦 = 𝑎 Sin 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥 + sin 𝑣𝑡 + 𝑥
𝜆 𝜆
2𝜋 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥 + 𝑣𝑡 + 𝑥 2𝜋 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑎 2 sin cos
𝜆 2 𝜆 2
2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑦 = 2𝑎 sin 𝜆
𝑣𝑡 cos − 𝜆
𝑥

2𝜋 2𝜋 C+𝐷 𝐶−𝐷
𝑦 = 2𝑎 sin 𝑣𝑡 cos 𝑥 [Sin C+ Sin D =2 sin COS ]
𝜆 𝜆 2 2

[Note:𝑐𝑜𝑠 −0 + 𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃]
2𝜋𝑥 2𝜋𝑣𝑡
𝑦 = 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑛
𝜆 𝜆
2𝜋𝑥
This represents a SHM wave with amplitude 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 . thus, the amplitude of the resultant wave is a
𝜆
function of 𝑥,
2𝜋𝑥
𝐴 = 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠
𝜆
2𝜋𝑣𝑡
Hence, the equation of stationary wave is expressed as 𝑦 = 𝐴 𝑠𝑖𝑛
𝜆
Positions of nodes and antinodes of stationary waves:
In stationary waves, there are certain points called nodes where the particles are
permanently at rest and certain other points called antinodes where the particles vibrate
with maximum amplitude. The nodes and antinodes are formed alternately.
Positions of the nodes:
Consider the positions, where the resultant amplitude A is minimum 𝑖. 𝑒. 𝐴 = 0
2𝜋𝑥
∴ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 =0
𝜆
2𝜋𝑥 𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋
𝑖. 𝑒. = , , ,………
𝜆 2 2 2
2𝜋𝑥 𝜋
∴ = 2𝑛 + 1
𝜆 2
(2𝑛 + 1)
∴𝑥= 𝜆
4
𝜆 3𝜆 5𝜆
∴ 𝑁𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑥 = , , , … … …
4 4 4
Positions of the antinodes:
Consider the positions, where the resultant amplitude A is max. 𝑖. 𝑒. 𝐴 = ±2𝑎
2𝜋𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑠 = ±1
𝜆
2𝜋𝑥
𝑖. 𝑒. = 0, 𝜋, 2𝜋, 3𝜋, … … . . .
𝜆
2𝜋𝑥
∴ = 𝑛𝜋
𝜆
𝑛𝜆
∴𝑥=
2
∴ 𝐴𝑛𝑡𝑖 − 𝑁𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑥
𝜆 2𝜆 3𝜆 4𝜆
= 0, , , , , … … …
2 2 2 2