09/12/2024

C.2 Wave
model
 Properties of Waves
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• Travelling waves are defined as follows:

Oscillations that transfer energy from one
place to
another without transferring matter.

• Waves transfer energy, not matter.

• Waves are generated by oscillating sources
– These oscillations travel away from the source.
• Oscillations can propagate through a medium (e.g. air,
water) or in vacuum (i.e. no particles),depending on
the type of wave.
 Properties of Waves
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• The key properties of travelling waves are as follows:

– Displacement (x)
– Wavelength (λ)
– Amplitude (xo)
 Properties of Waves
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• The key properties of travelling waves are as follows:

– Period (T)
– Frequency (f)
 Properties of Waves
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• The frequency, f, and the period, T, of a travelling wave

are related to each other by the equation:

• Where:
– f - frequency (Hz)
– T - time period (s)
 Properties of Waves
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• Wave speed (v) is the distance travelled by the wave

per unit time
• Measured in metres per second (ms-1)
• The wave speed is defined by the equation:

• Where:
– v - wave speed (ms-1)
– λ - wavelength (m)
• This is referred to as the wave equation
• It tells us that for a wave of constant speed:
– As the wavelength increases, the frequency
decreases
– As the wavelength decreases, the frequency
 Properties of Waves
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Practice problem:
A travelling wave has a period of 1.0 μs and travels at a
velocity of 100 cms-1.

Calculate the wavelength of the wave, in m.

 Properties of Waves
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Solution:

(1.0) (1 x 10-6) = 1 x 10-6 m

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Transverse & Longitudinal Waves
• In mechanical waves, particles oscillate about fixed
points
• There are two types of wave: transverse and
longitudinal
• The type of wave can be determined by the direction of
the oscillations in relation to the direction the wave is
travelling
Transverse Waves
• Transverse waves are defined as follows:
A wave in which the oscillations are
perpendicular to
the direction of motion and energy transfer
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Transverse & Longitudinal Waves

• This means that each particle in the wave vibrates up

and down
• Transverse waves show areas of peaks and troughs
• Transverse waves transfer energy, even if there is no
resultant displacement of the medium
– This means transverse waves do not need particles
to propagate, so they can travel through a
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Transverse & Longitudinal Waves
Longitudinal Waves
• Longitudinal waves are defined as follows:
A wave in which the oscillations are parallel to
the
direction of motion and energy transfer
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Transverse & Longitudinal Waves
Longitudinal Waves
• This means that each particle in the wave only vibrates
left and right
• As a longitudinal wave propagates, areas of low and
high pressure can be observed:
– A rarefaction is an area of low pressure, with the
particles being further apart from each other
– A compression is an area of high pressure, with
the particles being closer to each other
• Sound waves are an example of longitudinal waves
• Longitudinal waves need particles to propagate, so
they cannot travel through a vacuum
– This is why you cannot hear anything in the
vacuum of outer space
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Sound Waves
Sound Waves
• Sound waves are longitudinal waves and, as such,
require a medium in which to propagate
• Sound waves are generated by oscillating sources,
which produce a change in density of the surrounding
medium
• The sound wave then travels with a series of
compressions and rarefactions
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Sound Waves
Sound Waves
• Sound waves form a continuous spectrum based on
their frequency

• Humans can only hear sounds with frequencies in the

range 20 Hz - 20 kHz, known as the audible range
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Sound Waves
Pitch
• The frequency of a sound wave is related to its pitch
– Sounds with a low pitch have a low frequency (or
long wavelength)
– Sounds with a high pitch have a high frequency
(or short wavelength)
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Sound Waves
Volume
• The amplitude of a sound wave is related to its volume
– Sounds with a small amplitude have a low volume
– Sounds with a large amplitude have a high
volume
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Sound Waves
Speed of Sound
• Sound waves travel at a speed of about 340 ms-1 in air
at room temperature
– The higher the air temperature, the greater the
speed of sound
– The is because the average kinetic energy of the
particles is higher
• Sound travels the fastest through solids, since solid
particles are closely packed and can pass the
oscillations onto their neighbours much faster
• Sound travels the slowest in gases, since gas particles
are spread out and less efficient in transferring the
oscillations to their neighbours
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Electromagnetic Waves
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• An electromagnetic wave is generated by the combined
oscillation of an electric and a magnetic field
• These fields oscillate perpendicularly to each other
and to the direction of motion of the wave (i.e. the
direction in which energy is transferred)
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Electromagnetic Waves
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves and, as
such, they can travel through vacuum
• Regardless of their frequency, all electromagnetic
waves travel at the speed of light (c = 3 × 108 ms-1)
in vacuum
• Electromagnetic waves form a continuous spectrum
based on their frequency (or wavelength)
• The shorter the wavelength, or higher the frequency,
the greater the energy of the wave
• Humans can only sense electromagnetic waves with
wavelengths in the range 700 nm - 400 nm, which are
the limits of the so-called visible spectrum
– Electromagnetic waves with longer and shorter
wavelengths are invisible to the human eye
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Electromagnetic Waves

• Knowing the wavelengths of electromagnetic waves,

their frequencies can be calculated using
• The wave equation
• The fact that the speed of light (c = 3 × 108 ms-1) in
a vacuum is constant