Waves

Definition: Periodic oscillations that transfer energy from one point to another, without the net transfer of matter

Oscillations: moving around its average position on a regular, repetitive or periodic manner (Sinusoidal curve).

Mechanical Waves: must move through a medium (water, sound, strings, springs)

Electromagnetic Waves: waves that do not require a medium to transmit energy (visible light, gamma rays, radio waves), oscillation of fields through space.

Transverse Waves: waves where particles in the medium oscillate at right angles to the direction of wave travel

Longitudinal Waves: waves where particles in the medium oscillate

  • compressions: areas where particles of the medium are bunched together

  • rarefactions: areas where particles of the medium are spread apart

WAVE → (crests and troughs move in the direction of wave travel)

PARTICLES ↕ (individual particles oscillate perpendicular to wave travel)

Crest: area of maximum positive displacement ( x = A )

Trough: area of maximum negative displacement ( x = -A )

Sound Waves:

Definition: a type of longitudinal wave that is produced when a vibrating object causes air molecules to oscillate

  • Sometimes called pressure waves: areas of compression are high pressure, areas of rarefaction are low pressure

  • plotting pressure: crest of wave/amplitude is the max pressure

  1. a) false

    b) true

    c) true

    d) true

  1. sound, ripples, vibrations in rope

  1. they oscillate parallel to the waves direction around their equilibrium position

  2. perpendicular vs parallel

  3. a) longitudinal

    b) transverse

    c) transverse

    d) longitudinal