WAVES

A wave is a periodic disturbance that

moves away from a source and carries
energy with it.
Three Types
• In a longitudinal wave, the particles in the medium move
parallel to the direction of the wave.
• In a transverse wave, the particles in the medium move
perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
• A surface wave is often a combination of the two. Particles
typically move in circular or elliptical paths at the surface of a
medium.

Longitudinal  Parallel
Transverse  Perpendicular
Surface  Combo
TRUE or FALSE.
1. A wave is a travelling disturbance.
2. Waves carry energy from one location to another.
3. Sound waves are examples of transverse waves
4. Surface waves are waves that occur when particles
of the medium is perpendicular to the wave of
motion.
5. The motion of particles in surface waves tend to
decrease as it proceeds nearer to the surface .
the particles in the medium move

Matching Type:
parallel to the direction of the wave.

the particles in the medium move

perpendicular to the direction of
the wave.

Particles typically move in circular

or elliptical paths at the surface of a
medium.
How Do You Describe Waves?
 How Do You Describe Waves?
Anatomy of a Wave
TRANSVERSE WAVE- the particles in the medium move perpendicular to the
direction of the wave.
B

C D

Crest- the highest point of a wave

Trough – the lowest point of a wave
Amplitude – the maximum displacement of a vibrating
particle on either side of its normal position when the
wave passes.
 How Do You Describe Waves?
Anatomy of a Wave
TRANSVERSE WAVE- the particles in the medium move perpendicular to the
direction of the wave.

Crest- the highest point of a wave

Trough – the lowest point of a wave
Amplitude – the maximum displacement of a vibrating
particle on either side of its normal position when the
wave passes.
Wavelength- the distance between any successive
identical parts of the wave.

• Identify the intervals that represent a full

wavelength. ___________________________
 How Do You Describe Waves?
LONGITUDINAL WAVE - the particles in the medium move parallel to the
direction of the wave.

A compression is a point on a medium through which a

longitudinal wave is traveling that has the maximum density

A rarefaction is a point on a medium through which a

longitudinal wave is traveling that has the minimum
density
 How Do You Describe Waves?
SURFACE WAVES - particles typically move in circular or elliptical paths at
the surface of a medium.
FREQUENCY - the number of waves that pass a particular
point every one second.
PERIOD - the time required for one complete wave to
pass a given point
WAVE SPEED - the distance travelled by the wave per
second.
 A teacher attaches a slinky to the wall and
begins introducing pulses with different amplitudes.
Which of the two pulses (A or B) below will travel
from the hand to the wall in the least amount of time?
Justify your answer.
 Boardwork:

1. A wave with a frequency of 14 Hz has a wavelength of 3

meters. At what speed will this wave travel?

2. Mac and Tosh are resting on top of the water near the end
of the pool when Mac creates a surface wave. The wave
travels the length of the pool and back in 25 seconds. The pool
is 25 meters long. Determine the speed of the wave.

3. Suppose you observed an anchored boat to rise and fall

once every 4.0 seconds as waves whose crests are 25
meters apart pass by it.
a. What is the frequency of the observed waves?
b. What is the speed of the waves?
 How Do You Describe Waves?
Wave Characteristics
Amplitude (A) – Maximum displacement of particle of the medium from
its equilibrium point.
The bigger the amplitude, the more energy the wave carries.
Wavelength () – Distance from crest to crest; same as distance from
trough to trough.
Period (T) – Time it takes consecutive crests (or troughs) to pass a given
point, i.e., the time required for one full cycle of the wave to pass by.
Period is the reciprocal of frequency: T = 1 / f.
Frequency (f ) – The number of cycles passing by in a given time. The SI
unit for frequency is the Hertz (Hz), which is one cycle per second.
Wave speed (v) – How fast the wave is moving (the disturbance itself, not
how fast the individual particles are moving, which constantly varies).
Speed depends on the medium. We’ll prove that v =  f.