Topic 4 Oscillations and Waves

Aims
To know what a wave is
To review previous knowledge of waves

What is a wave?

YouTube - Water bubble in Space (zero gravity)

Waves
Waves can transfer energy and
information without a net motion of the
medium through which they travel.
They involve vibrations (oscillations) of
some sort.

Waves
Waves can transfer energy and
information without a net motion of the
medium through which they travel.
They involve vibrations (oscillations) of
some sort.
Can you do something very boring
and traditional
Can you copy this please?

Homework
Can you read pages 216 to 237 of your
book before next lesson?

Wave fronts
Wave fronts highlight the part of a wave
that is moving together (in phase).
= wavefront

Ripples formed by a
stone falling in water

Rays
Rays highlight the direction of energy
transfer.

Transverse waves
The oscillations are perpendicular to the
direction of energy transfer.
Direction of energy transfer

oscillation

Transverse waves
peak

trough

Transverse waves
Water ripples
Light
On a rope/slinky
Earthquake

Longitudinal waves
The oscillations are parallel to the direction of
energy transfer.

Direction of energy transfer

oscillation

Longitudinal waves
compression

rarefraction

Longitudinal waves
Sound

Slinky

Earthquake

Other waves - water

Other waves - Rayleigh

Displacement - x
This measures the change that has taken place as a
result of a wave passing a particular point.
Zero displacement refers to the average position.

= displacement

Amplitude - A
The maximum displacement from the
mean position.

amplitude

Period - T
The time taken (in seconds) for one complete
oscillation. It is also the time taken for a
complete wave to pass a given point.

One complete wave

Frequency - f
The number of oscillations in one second.
Measured in Hertz.

50 Hz = 50 vibrations/waves/oscillations in one second.

Wavelength -
The shortest distance between points that
are in phase (points moving together or in
step).

wavelength

Wave speed - v
The speed at which the wave fronts pass
a stationary observer.
330 m.s-1

Period and frequency

Period and frequency are reciprocals of
each other

f = 1/T

T = 1/f

The Wave Equation

The time taken for one complete oscillation is
the period T. In this time, the wave will have
moved one wavelength .
The speed of the wave therefore is distance/time

v = /T = f
Lets try some
questions

Some example wave equation questions

1) A water wave has a frequency of 2Hz and a wavelength

of 0.3m. How fast is it moving?
0.6m/s
2) A water wave travels through a pond with a speed of
1m/s and a frequency of 5Hz. What is the wavelength
of the waves?
0.2m
3) The speed of sound is 330m/s (in air). When Dave
hears this sound his ear vibrates 660 times a second.
What was the wavelength of the sound?
0.5m
4) Purple light has a wavelength of around 6x10-7m and a
frequency of 5x1014Hz. What is the speed of purple
light?
3x108m/s

Example
A stone is thrown onto still water and creates a wave. A small cork
floating 1.0 m away has the following displacement time graph (time
is measured from when the stone hits the water)
Displacement cm

a. What is the amplitude?

b. What is the speed?
c. What is the frequency?
d. What is the wavelength?

1.4
-1
-2

1.5

1.6

1.7

Time s

Example
A stone is thrown onto still water and creates a wave. A small cork
floating 1.0 m away has the following displacement time graph (time
is measured from when the stone hits the water)
Displacement cm

a. What is the amplitude?

2 cm

1.4
-1
-2

1.5

1.6

1.7

Time s

Example
A stone is thrown onto still water and creates a wave. A small cork
floating 1.0 m away has the following displacement time graph (time
is measured from when the stone hits the water)
Displacement cm

b. What is the speed?

= d/t = 1/1.5 = 0.67 m/s

1.4
-1
-2

1.5

1.6

1.7

Time s

Example
A stone is thrown onto still water and creates a wave. A small cork
floating 1.0 m away has the following displacement time graph (time
is measured from when the stone hits the water)
Displacement cm

c. What is the frequency?

f = 1/T = 1/0.3 = 3.33 Hz

1.4
-1
-2

1.5

1.6

1.7

Time s

Example
A stone is thrown onto still water and creates a wave. A small cork
floating 1.0 m away has the following displacement time graph (time
is measured from when the stone hits the water)
Displacement cm

d. What is the wavelength?

= v/f = 0.67/3.33 = 0.2 m

1.4
-1
-2

1.5

1.6

1.7

Time s