Lesson ObjectivesBy the end of this lesson, you will
be able to:
• State the different types of waves and the difference between them
• Describe the diffraction of light
• Explain how to work out the speed of wave propagation
• Waves transfer energy & information but without transferring matter
• The energy is transferred by oscillations in the material which the wave is travelling though
1) Mechanical Waves
Waves that pass though a material are vibrations of that material
eg. Sound waves, seismic waves, strings
2) Electromagnetic Waves
Vibrating electrical or magnetic fields through space (no material needed)
eg electromagnetic spectrum
1. Longitudinal Waves
• Oscillations occur parallel to direction of travel
• Sound waves – a vibrating surface in contact with air.
• The surface pushes air molecules away which push adjacent air molecules
Compression (C)
Expansion (E)
E E EC C CDirection
of Travel
which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules which push adjacent air molecules…….
2. Transverse Wave
Direction of
Travel
• Oscillations at right angles (90o) perpendicular to direction of travel
• Electromagnetic waves – radiowaves, X-rays, microwaves, visible light etc
• Waves on a string or wire – plucking a guitar string
• Can only polarise transverse waves
• When an earthquake occurs, a majority of the energy is transferred as wave energy and transmitted over long distances.
• Classified in 2 types
1) P primary or push waves
2) S secondary or shake/shear waves
A
Parts of a Wave
x
Wavelength
Peak
Amplitude
Trough
1 complete wave
Key Terms• Displacement (s) – the distance from the
equilibrium position
• Wavelength () – the distance between identical points in a wave train
• Amplitude (A) – maximum displacement of a particle (peak or trough max.)
Key Terms• Period (T) – the time taken for 1 complete
wave to pass a point
• Frequency (f) – number of cycles per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz).
fT
1
Amplitude and FrequencyLow amplitude, low frequency:
Low amplitude, high frequency:
High amplitude, low frequency:
High amplitude, high frequency:
WAVE SPEED• We know the relationship between
distance, speed and time.• Speed = Distance / Time• Therefore…
D
TS
Wave Speed = Wavelength / Period
V = λ / T
But we know that T = 1/f
So we can substitute….
The Wave Equationrelates the speed of the wave to its frequency and wavelength
Wave speed (v) = frequency (f) x wavelength ()
m/s Hz m
V
f
Some example wave equation questions
1) The speed of sound is 330m/s (in air). When Cuthbert hears this sound his ear vibrates 660 times a second. What was the wavelength of the sound?
2) a) Purple light has a wavelength of around 6x10-7m. If its frequency is 5x1014 Hz. What is the speed of light?
b) Red light travels at the same speed. Work out its frequency if its wavelength is about 4x10-7m.
TSUNAMIa) A typical tsunami has a wavelength of 300km and a period
of 30 mins. What speed does it travel at?
b) Brighton is 2800km from La Palma – how long do we have to evacuate before it hits?
1. Reflection
Waves will bounce off a surface under certain conditions
eg the surface must be shiny for electromagnetic waves
Reflective surface
Incident Ray
Reflected Ray
Normal
Angle of Incidence
Angle of Reflection
Angle of Incidence = Angle of Reflection
2. Refraction
Glass Block
Air
Waves cross a boundary causing a change in speed and consequently wavelength
Depends on the refractive index of different substancesNormal
Normal
3. Diffraction
• Occurs when waves pass through a gap or around an object of roughly the same size or smaller than their wavelength.
•Large gap - the middle parts of the waves go straight through the gap, with a slight curving at the edges of the waves.
•Small gap - if the gap is smaller than the wavelength of the waves, the waves fan out in circles.
1. Constructive Interference - when the crests (or troughs) of two waves coincide, they combine to create an amplified wave.
The two waves are in phase with each other – there is zero phase difference between them.
2. Destructive Interference - where the crests of one wave are aligned with the troughs of another, they cancel each other out.
The waves are out of phase (or in antiphase) with each other – they are half a cycle different from each other.
Lesson ObjectivesBy the end of this lesson, you will
be able to:
• State the different types of waves and the difference between them
• Describe the diffraction of light
• Explain how to work out the speed of wave propagation
GOOD WORK HUMANS!
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