Waves

Chapter 12 Waves
(progressive waves)
Learning objectives
I CAN
●describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibration in ropes, springs
and ripple tanks
● understand and use the terms displacement, amplitude, phase difference, period,
frequency, wavelength and speed
● understand the use of the time-base and y-gain of a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO)
to determine frequency and amplitude
● derive, using the definitions of speed, frequency and wavelength, the wave
equation v = f λ
● recall and use v = f λ
● compare transverse and longitudinal waves
● analyze and interpret graphical representations of transverse and longitudinal
waves.
● recall and use intensity = power/area and intensity ∝ (amplitude)² for a progressive
wave
Name as many waves as you can!
Describing waves
● Waves that move through a material (or a vacuum) are called progressive waves.
● A progressive wave transfers energy from one point to another without transfering
any material between the two points.
● When a wave travels between two points, no matter actually travels with it. The
points on the wave simply vibrate back and forth about fixed positions.
●Simulation:
● https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/wave-on-a-string/latest/wave-on-a-string_en
.html
● https://ophysics.com/w5.html
Main features of the wave
displacement–distance graph of sinusoidal waves
Period, T
time
displacement–time graph of sinusoidal waves

Main features of the wave
Features of
Symbol Unit Definition
waves
The distance of a point on the wave from its
displacement x meter (m) undisturbed position, or equilibrium position.
meter (m) The maximum displacement of any point on the wave

amplitude A from its undisturbed position
The distance between two adjacent points on a wave

oscillating in step with each other. This is the same as
λ (the Greek letter meter (m)
wavelength the distance between two adjacent peaks or troughs.
lambda)
The time taken for one complete oscillation of a point in

wave. It is the time taken for a point to move from one
particular position and return to that same position,
period T second (s)
moving in the same direction.
The number of oscillations per unit time of a point in a

frequency f Hertz (Hz) wave.
Types of waves
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVyHkV3wIyk
Types of waves
Transverse waves Longitudinal waves
Compression
Crest/peak
Rarefaction
Trough
In transverse waves, the particles of the In longitudinal waves, the particles of the
medium vibrate perpendicular to the medium vibrate parallel to the direction
direction of movement of the wave. movement of the wave.
Example: ripples on water, light waves, Example: sound waves
electromagnetic waves
Representing longitudinal waves
● The longitudinal wave shows how the
material through which it is travelling is
alternately compressed and expanded.
This gives rise to high and low pressure
regions, respectively. However, this can
be difficult to draw, so you will often
see a longitudinal wave represented as
if it were a sine wave.
● We can compare the compressions and
rarefactions (or expansions) of the
longitudinal wave with the peaks and
troughs of the transverse wave.
Exercise
The diagram shows a wave. Which labelled distance is the
wavelength?
Exercise
The diagram represents a water wave.
Which row shows the amplitude and the
wavelength of the wave?
Exercise
Time Period, Frequency and
Wave Speed Calculation
Time Period
Time period is the time taken for a full cycle of the wave, usually
measured from peak to peak, or trough to trough.
The period of a wave can be calculated using the equation:
This is when:
● the period (T ) is measured in seconds (s)
● time (t) is measured in seconds (s)
● number of cycle (n)
Frequency
● Frequency is the number of waves passing a point each second
● The frequency of a wave can be calculated using the equation:
This is when:
● the frequency (f ) is measured in Hertz (Hz)
● time (t) is measured in seconds (s)
● number of cycle (n)
Period and Frequency Relationship
Where:
T: period (s)
f: frequency (Hz)
n: number of cycles
t: time (s)
Measuring frequency and voltage
You can measure the frequency of sound waves using a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) or
oscilloscope for short.
X-axis Y-axis
Time-base Y-gain
Represents Represents
time voltage
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX8JIM7elVQ
Simulation: https://academo.org/demos/virtual-oscilloscope/
Exercise
Exercise
Exercise
Wave Speed
Wave speed is speed with which energy is transmitted by a wave
Recall:
The speed of a wave can be calculated using the equation:

Course book pg.229
Phase Difference
Phase difference
• Phase difference is how far through a
wave cycle one oscillation leads or lags
another, expressed in either degrees or
radians.
Video:
Phase difference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9rGgt-IMaQ
Phase difference
• Phase difference is measured in fractions of a wavelength, degrees or
radians
The motion of each particle in the next moment
Video:
Motion of a particle on a transverse wave:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F44NTrfi30
Workbook pg.84 no 1,2,4
Wave Energy, Intensity and
Amplitude
Wave Energy, Intensity and Amplitude
• When a wave travels between two points, no matter actually travels with it. The points
on the wave simply vibrate back and forth about fixed positions. Each particle that make
up the material through which the wave is travelling vibrates and pushes its neighbor,
transferring energy to it.
• The intensity of a wave is defined as the rate of energy transmitted (power) per unit
area at right angles to the wave velocity.
• The intensity of a wave generally decreases as it travels along (the wave may spread
out/be absorbed/scattered). Therefore, its amplitude decreases.
• In fact, intensity I is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude A.
if one wave has twice the amplitude of another, it has four times the
intensity. This means that the wave is transmitting four times the
power per unit area at right angles to the wave velocity.
Workbook pg.85 no 1,2
Doppler Effect for Sound Waves
Learning objectives
I CAN
●understand that when a source of sound waves moves relative to a stationary
observer, the observed frequency is different from the source frequency.
(understanding of the Doppler effect for a stationary source and a moving
observer is not required
● use the expression fο = fs v /(v ± vs) for the observed frequency when a
source of sound waves moves relative to a stationary observe.

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Chapter 12 Waves

displacement–distance graph of sinusoidal waves

displacement–time graph of sinusoidal waves

meter (m) The maximum displacement of any point on the wave

The distance between two adjacent points on a wave

The time taken for one complete oscillation of a point in

The number of oscillations per unit time of a point in a

The speed of a wave can be calculated using the equation:

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