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Wave Motion
The document discusses different types of waves, including transverse waves and longitudinal waves. It defines key wave properties such as amplitude, wavelength, period, and frequency. It explains that amplitude measures intensity, wavelength is the distance between crests, period is the time for one full wave cycle, and frequency is the number of cycles per unit time. The document also defines transverse wave properties like crests and troughs and longitudinal wave properties like compression and rarefaction.
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Instructions to navigate back and an introduction to waves and their types.
Definitions of amplitude (A, meters) and wavelength (λ, meters) as measures of wave characteristics.
Definitions of period (T, seconds) and frequency (f, cycles/second) with equations and concepts of wave behavior.
Description of crests, troughs in transverse waves and compressions, rarefactions in longitudinal waves.
Overview of transverse and longitudinal waves, emphasizing energy transfer and particle motion.
Mention of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse in 1940 as a notable incident related to waves.
Instructions to know key concepts for problems in preparation for the next exam.
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Wave Motion
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- 2. To get backto this slide at anytime, click the “Home” icon
- 3. What’s the firstthing that comes to mind when you hear the word “wave”? We often think of common forms of waves such as the waves in the ocean . But there are many kinds of waves. Waves are all around us and we encounter them everyday. There are light waves, sound waves, and many more. In this section, we are going to look at common types of waves , what parts make up those waves, and real life examples of waves.
- 4. Amplitude is ameasurement from equilibrium to the crest of a wave. Equilibrium is the point half way in between a crest and a trough in the vertical direction. We measure to the crest instead of the trough because then the amplitude is a positive number. Amplitude is a measure of the intensity of a wave. The symbol for amplitude is A and it is measured in meters.
- 5. The wavelength isthe length of one complete wave, or cycle. It is measured from crest to crest or from trough to trough for transverse waves . It is similar for longitudinal waves as well. The symbol for wavelength is the Greek letter lambda ( λ ) and is measured in meters.
- 6. Period is thetime it takes to complete one full cycle of a wave. A cycle is from rarefaction to rarefaction or from compression to compression for longitudinal waves . It is similar for transverse waves as well. The symbol for period is T and it is measured in seconds.
- 7. Frequency is thenumber of cycles that occur for every unit of time. There are two equations for frequency. These are used to make calculations with waves. The symbol for frequency if f and it is measured in cycles per second. Frequency is the inverse of period : Frequency is equal to the velocity of a wave divided by the wavelength :
- 8. The crest isthe highest point in the vertical direction for a transverse wave . Similarly, the trough is the lowest point in the vertical direction.
- 9. The compression ofa longitudinal wave is the part of the wave where the particles in a wave are most dense. Rarefaction is the part of the wave where the particles are least dense.
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- 12. There are manytypes of waves. In this section, we’re specifically going to look at transverse waves and longitudinal waves , as well as examine a special type of wave called a standing wave . They are examples of mechanical waves. An important concept about wave motion is that waves transfer energy, NOT matter.
- 13. A transverse waveis characterized by particle motion that is perpendicular to the wave energy. It is important to understand that an individual particles do not move from there original position on the horizontal axis, they merely oscillate vertically. Click on the picture to visit a website that let’s you adjust the wavelength and amplitude of a transverse wave.
- 14. A longitudinal waveis characterized by particle motion that is parallel to the direction of the wave energy. Even though they are in the same direction, it is important to note that a particle does not move with the wave, it merely oscillates in the same direction. Click on the picture to visit a website that shows animated pictures of wave motion.
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- 18. In 1940, theTacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed… BONUS! News Reel For the Tacoma Narrows Tragedy
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- 20. Know the followingconcepts and how to apply them to problems for the next exam: