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ClassNotes 94 853 Production of Propagation of Waves
ClassNotes 94 853 Production of Propagation of Waves
ClassNotes 94 853 Production of Propagation of Waves
ng On 2021-Apr-08 06:18:36
WEEK 1
Performance Objectives
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Students should be able to;
1.
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Generate Mechanical waves.
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2.
State the important characteristics of waves.
3.
Produce circular and plane waves using a ripple tank
4.
Generate and demonstrate longitudinal and transverse waves using
suitable materials.
Wave
Content
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other end and make it to move up and down rapidly. Alternatively, get a long string
and place both ends to two fixed points as shown below. Pluck the string i.e pull it
either vertically downward or upward and release it. A wave will be generated.
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1. Crest: This is a region of maximum upward displacement of the particles of the
medium.
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2. Trough: This is a region of maximum downward displacement of the particles of
the medium
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3. Phase: The particles of a wave are said to be in phase when they are at the
same vertical distance from their mean position and are moving in the same
direction.
5. Period (T): This is the time taken by a particle to complete one circle or
oscillation. Its unit is seconds. It can also be defined as the time taken for the wave
to cover one wavelength. i.e from point P to Q or from Point O to R in the diagram
above.
From a to B is a cycle. The time for the wave to move from A to B is called PERIOD
Period T =
T = t/n
6. Frequency (f): This is defined as the number of circles the wave makes in one
second. It is measured in Hertz (Hz)
f = n/t
7. Wavelength (?): This is the distance between two successive crests or troughs in
phase. It can also be defined as the distance covered by the wave after completing
a circle. It is measured in metres. In the diagram, the wavelength ? is the distance
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(P Q) or (O R).
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8. Wave velocity (v): This is the distance () the wave travels with time (t). its unit is
m/s.
V = distance/time
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During one cycle, the distance travelled = wavelength
Therefore;
V = wavelength/period
V = ?/T
V = ?/f
Example 1:
A wave travels a distance of 100m in 5 seconds. The distance between successive
crests of the wave is 25cm. Calculate the frequency of the wave.
Solution:
Velocity = distance/time
= 100/5 = 20m/s
V = f?
f = v/?
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f = 20/0.25 = 80Hz
Example 2:
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A radio station broadcasts at a frequency of 200 kHz. If the speed of the wave is 3.0
x 108 m/s, calculate the period and the wavelength of the wave.
Solution:
= 5 × 10?6seconds
V = f?
Wavelength, ? =v/f
= = 1.5 × 103m
Example 3:
A vibrating source which has a frequency of 500Hz produces a sound whose
velocity in air is 330m/s. Determine the distance which the sound travels when the
source completes 100 vibrations.
Solution:
f = n/t
500 = 100/t
t = 0.2sec
V = d/t
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330 = d/0.2
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d = 66.0m
Alternative Solution:
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Frequency f = 500Hz or 500 circles per second.
If the source makes 500 circles in a second, then it will take the source (100/500)
seconds to make 100 circles = 0.2s
Speed(v) =
500 = 100/t
t = 0.2sec