Mechanical Waves

transverse, longitudinal and surface

waves
 METHODOLOGY
•First students will read the topic.
•Then teacher will explain the topic.
•Then students will learn the topic.
•At the end students will perform some
experiments on the topic.
 STUDENT LEARNING
OUTCOMES
1. Explain SHM with simple pendulum.
2. Describe wave motion.
3. Describe waves as means of energy transfer.
4. Differentiate between mechanical and
electromagnetic waves.
5. Describe construction & working of ripple tank.
6. Define reflection, refraction and diffraction.
 Mechanical Waves
• A mechanical wave is a disturbance in matter
that carries energy from one place to another
• Mechanical waves require matter to travel
through
• A mechanical wave is created when a source
of energy causes a vibration to travel through
a medium
 Examples of Mediums
• A medium is the matter through which a wave
travels
• Solids, liquids and gases can all act as a medium
• In a wave pool, the water is the medium
• When you shake a rope, the rope is the medium
 Types of mechanical waves
• The three main types of mechanical waves
are: transverse waves, longitudinal
(compressional)waves and surface waves
 Transverse Waves
• A crest is the highest point above the rest
position of a wave
• A trough is the lowest point below the rest
position of a wave
crest crest

trough
trough
 Transverse Wave
• In a transverse wave the wave causes the
medium to vibrate at right angles to the direction
in which the wave travels
• The wave carries energy from left to right, in a
direction perpendicular to the up and down
motion of the medium
• Direction of wave

Direction
of Vibration
 Longitudinal Waves
• A compression is an area where particles in a
medium are spaced close together
• A rarefaction is an area where particles in a
medium are spread out
• This can be seen in spring toys like slinkies
rarefaction

compression
 Longitudinal Waves
• A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the
vibration of the medium is parallel to the
direction the wave travels
• The vibration is a back and forth motion that
is parallel to or in the same direction that the
wave moves
 Surface Waves
• A surface wave is a wave that travels along a
surface separating two mediums
• An ocean wave travels at the surface between
the water and the air
• Waves behave differently near shore, when
they topple over themselves they bring the
medium and anything floating in it with them
 Surface Waves
• A bobber will move up and down
like a transverse wave
• The bobber will also move back
and forth like a longitudinal wave
• These two motions combined
cause the bobber to move in a
circle