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St.

Anthony's Canossian Secondary School

Sec 3NA Science (Physics) Notes

General Wave Properties

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:


(a) describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibrations in ropes and springs and by
waves in a ripple tank
(b) show understanding that waves transfer energy without transferring matter
(c) define speed, frequency, wavelength, period and amplitude
(d) state what is meant by the term wavefront

(e) recall and apply the relationship velocity = frequency x wavelength to new situations or to solve
related problems

(g) compare transverse and longitudinal waves and give suitable examples of each

A wave is a vibration or disturbance that transfers .. e.I'\~f..!?l~ without transferring


.'X'f(\.-:lt.e,( .'.. .. .. .... ..
There are two kinds of wave, tf0:!,$.'!.~ and ~!:tY.J:\~~ .
Transverse Wave Longitudinal Wave

Definition: Ifl\ns\lOft.D I Definition: ~ihLvuJ wttve 1,clIJd


l,.UaV~ trQV.e

~tA.l:lAl~_jp---=Lhe_dl..e,:
.hm~:LP.cYall(J_jp 4k JI~C.~ ~
-6])-~t!rr~ 6b-~-ra-rh(.~ _v"h!,,-n.O'I ~ -+k. f_JThd..eA
-'-I) +k2~llun 1;~LULI1'

11 direction of
wave travel
> direck
61 Wcwl2
direction of vibration of
J~rUhon 0( -trolA'ZI
pOJhc.\4.1.
particles in medium Vi\tfCAnM
Examples: L i~l, t J fOre wew J wc<-k.-r Example: ~ W6-Ue
)( _ I't>-j ..
~lIe

f A-ll etu.-lvo 1'\'\ . L'c.. Ul aile)


~

When the wave travels, the particles do not move with the wave. They only vibrate about their
equilibrium position. .
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Depending on the direction of vibration, the same slinky can be used to produce both the
longitudinal and the transverse wave

On: Locate the crests, troughs, rarefaction and compression in the diagrams below.

direction of wave motion



push _
pull-

direction of vibration

direction oi
vibr,ltion
particles of
medium
of
I left

crest
.. ,~
rest A
position (of
undisturbed 'm\i~';"n;;;r~_d_e'_A_-. distance along the rope/m
particles of
the ropes) \ \.,-")amPlitude. A
-A ----;-;~~9h~
.... J, ~Itrough

Terms I unit Explanation

Amplitude, A The maximum displacement of the particles.


( m )

Wavelength, 1-,. The distance between two consecutive points that are in phase.
( ) (e.g. distance between 2 consecutive crests, troughs or compressions)
rY\
Frequency, f The number of complete waves produced per second or

( H-z.) The number of waves that pass through a point in one second.

Period, T The time taken to produce one complete wave or


( ) The time taken by one particle of the wave to make a complete oscillation.
S
Wave Speed, v The distance travelled by the wave in one second.

( m15) (It tells us how fast the wave is moving).

Wavefront An imaginary on a wave that joins all the points that are in phase.


d lS+""'CQ.. ~ 2
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~ i)
I~

."
W~~ts - WR.~#.
LA)
~,. IVt:lVtl~-IJ
Wave Equation

I v = f I.. I where v = velocity of the wave (m/s), f = frequency (Hz) and I.. is the wavelength (m).

IT = 1I fI where T = period (s), f = frequency (Hz).

Practice Questions

(1) Complete the table below


Frequency of wave Period Wavelength of wave Speed of wave
5 Hz 0-2 0.2 m
S Iml s
20 Hz 0-055 0.5 mls
O'O).Srn
2s 1.5 mls
o.51-h 3m
(2) A certain radio wave has a frequency Of x
What is the speed of the radio wave?
1t H~and a wavelength o~ 5~ m)
\.:.

(3) A transver:z. wave has a velocitho~ m/s)nd a frequency Of6,01o HZ)


What is th"(!istance between the 2 crest of this wave})
- )\v

V .: + 71 /}:: ..Y
+ -- 300
-'0-0-0-
-
-
o. 3 "'"
".//
/.
(4) Draw a full scale diagram of a complete wave that has fm amplitude of 1 cm and a wavelength
of 6 cm

Ion ... - ..

\UlI - . .
of . ~
(5) A sour e ofrequency 500 Hz}mits waves o(wavelength 0.2 m)
How long does it take for the wave to travel 400 m?

~ d V;tl\:::500)l. 0-1
~

The 1V-r/YIultl >r-ud;;


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:-t
.
/1'\4
:. lOOmIs

~ ~J
too ..
In +h IS cMap-tP< -
- 400
100
(6) The lines below represent the crests of a transverse wave.

p
I '1 3 q. ~ (, , IS Q

~
16 m
(a) What is the wavelength of the wave?
A ~ Ib
-r ; 2yYl~
(b) If 5 waves are produced in every second,
(i) what is the frequency of the wave?

:5- ; 5 '-h_1'
(ii) what is the period of the wave?

...l- -L 2s
T ~f ; 5 :: 0-
t
(iii) what is the speed of the wave?

(7) (a) The figure below is a displacement-distance graph of ripples on the surface of water in a
ripple tank.

Determine (i) the amplitude of the ripples (ii) the wavelength of the ripples

li) o.6m
(!
(b) What is the frequency of the wave if the wave travel at a speed of 2.5 m/s?

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