Unit 4.2: Unit 4.2 Particle Vibrations and Wave Motion

Book 3B
Unit 4.2
Particle vibrations and
wave motion
Book 3B Unit 4.2 Particle vibrations and wave motion
Let’s begin
The Mexican wave
Describing particle vibrations
Checkpoint 2
Describing wave motion
Checkpoint 3
Particle vibrations and wave motion
Checkpoint 4
Particle speed and wave speed
Checkpoint 5
p.2
Let’s begin The Mexican wave

We can see a Mexican wave in a football match. It
is formed when each spectator stands up, raises the
arms, and then sits down one by one across a
stadium.
How is the creation of the Mexican wave similar to

that of a wave? Answer
p.3
Compare the creation of the Mexican wave with

that of a wave.
Mexican wave:
each spectator moves up and then down one
by one
Wave:
each particle continuously vibrates in a sequential
manner
Let’s begin
p.4

On a transverse wave, particles vibrate up and down
about their equilibrium positions.
Equilibrium position:
the undisturbed position of the particle
p.5

a Amplitude
The amplitude of particle vibration is the size

of the maximum displacement of the particle
from its equilibrium position.
Amplitude is a measurement
of length.
Unit: metre (m)
Symbol: A
p.6

b Period
The period of particle vibration is the time for

the particle to make one complete vibration.
 Period is a measurement of time.

Unit: second (s)
Symbol: T
 A particle moves up, down and then
up again to its starting position C.
 One complete vibration
p.7

b Period
 After one complete vibration, the particle will
repeat its motion.
 Regardless of the starting point, a particle always
takes the same time (the period) to make one
complete vibration.
p.8

c Frequency
The frequency of particle vibration is the

number of vibrations made in one second.
 Unit: hertz (Hz) [i.e. vibration per second]
Symbol: f
 E.g. f = 2 Hz
 makes 2 complete vibrations in 1 s
∴ Time for 1 complete vibration (T) = 1s
2
1
f=
T
p.9
Example 1 Describing particle vibration
A particle vibrates in a vertical line. The

distance between the highest point and
the lowest point is 0.1 m. The particle
makes 10 complete vibrations in 5 s.
Find A, T and f.
0.1 m
A= = 0.05 m
2
5s
T= = 0.5 s
10
1 1
f= = = 2 Hz
T 0.5
p.10
Checkpoint 2
1 A particle vibrates in a vertical line.
The distance between the highest
point and the lowest point is 6 cm.
(Given: f = 2.5 Hz)
(a) A = ?
6 cm
A= = 3 cm
2
(b) T = ?
1 1 1
f=  T= = = 0.4 s
T f 2.5
p.11
Checkpoint 2
2 Period of a particle = 0.2 s
(a) How much time does the particle take to
make 20 complete vibrations?
Time = 0.2  20 = 4 s
(b) How many complete vibrations does the

particle make in 6 s?
6
No. of complete vibration = 0.2 = 30
p.12
Checkpoint 2
3 Frequency of a particle = 4 Hz
(a) How much time does the particle take to
make 100 complete vibrations?
100
Time = = 25 s
4
(b) How many complete vibrations does the

particle make in 1 minute?
No. of complete vibration = 4  60 = 240
p.13
Checkpoint 2
4 A particle vibrates in a vertical line.
It takes 0.25 s to go from the highest point to the
lowest point.
T=?
T = 0.25  2
= 0.5 s
p.14

 The motion of each individual particle in the
medium as a whole gives rise to wave motion.
 Terms that describe particle vibrations are also

used to describe wave motion.
p.15

a Amplitude
The amplitude of a wave is the size of the

maximum displacement measured from the
equilibrium position.
 Amplitude is a measure of the amount of energy

carried by the wave.
Amplitude, wavelength, period and frequency of
Simulation 4.3
transverse waves
p.16

b Wavelength
The wavelength of a wave is the minimum

distance over which the waveform repeats
itself.
p.17

b Wavelength
 Unit: metre (m)

Symbol:
 Method for finding :
To measure the distance between two
successive crests (or troughs)
p.18

c Period
The period of a wave is the time for one

complete cycle of wave to be produced.
At t = 0–0.5 s,
 1 complete cycle
of wave (in red)
produced
 T = 0.5 s
p.19

c Period
At t = 0–0.5 s,
 wave moving
towards the right
by 1
The period of a wave is the time for the wave

to travel a distance of one wavelength.
p.20
Example 2 Sketching waveform
A wave (T = 0.5 s) is travelling to the right along a

string. Sketch the waveform at t = 0.125 s.
1
As 0.125 s = 4 T, the waveform should displace to
1
the right by 4 .
Waveform at t = 0:
t = 0.125 s
p.21

d Frequency
The frequency of a wave is the number of

complete cycles of wave produced in 1 s.
 When f = 2 Hz,
 2 complete cycles of wave produced in 1 s
1 1
∴ Time for 1 complete cycle (T) = s  f=
2 T
p.22
Example 3 Finding amplitude, wavelength and

frequency
A waveform is produced by
disturbing the water surface
for 3 s.
(a) A = ?
0.1 m
A= = 0.05 m
2
(b)  = ?
1.5 complete cycles of wave cover 2.4 m.
2.4 m
= = 1.6 m
1.5
p.23
Example 3 Finding amplitude, wavelength and

frequency
A waveform is produced by
disturbing the water surface
for 3 s.
(c) f = ?
In 3 s, 1.5 complete cycles of wave are
produced.
1.5
f= = 0.5 Hz
3
p.24

e Wave speed
The wave speed of a wave is the distance

travelled by the wave in one second.
 Unit: metre per second (m s–1)

Symbol: v
p.25

e Wave speed
Consider a wave
moving a distance d
in time t.
d  1
v= = = 
t T T
 v=f
wave speed = frequency  wavelength

v = f
apply to all kinds of waves
p.26

e Wave speed
Summary of all the terms for describing particle
vibration and wave motion:
Term In terms of particle motion In terms of wave motion
Amplitude size of the maximum size of the maximum
(A) displacement of the particle displacement measured
from its equilibrium position from the equilibrium position
Period (T) time for the particle to time for one complete cycle
make one complete of wave to be produced OR
vibration time for the wave to travel a
distance of one wavelength
p.27

e Wave speed
Summary of all the terms for describing particle
vibration and wave motion:
Term In terms of particle motion In terms of wave motion
Frequency number of vibrations made number of complete cycles
(f) in 1 s of wave produced in 1 s
Wavelength — minimum distance over
( ) which the waveform repeats
itself
Wave speed — distance travelled by the
(v) wave in 1 s
p.28
Example 4 Finding wave speed and applying v = f
An elastic string is stretched to a length of 5 m.

At t = 0, a transverse wave is produced with f = 4
Hz. The wave reaches the other end at t = 2.5 s.
(a) v = ?
d 5
v= = = 2 m s–1
t 2.5
(b) T = ?
1
T = = 1 = 0.25 s
f 4
p.29
Example 4 Finding wave speed and applying v = f
An elastic string is stretched to a length of 5 m.

At t = 0, a transverse wave is produced with f = 4
Hz. The wave reaches the other end at t = 2.5 s.
(c)  = ?
By v = f,
 = v = 2 = 0.5 m
f 4
p.30
Checkpoint 3
1 A wave of period 1 s is generated by a vibrator
and travels to the right along a string. The
waveform after a short time is as shown.
Sketch the waveform on the string 0.5 s later.
p.31
Checkpoint 3
2 A string 0.9 m long is flicked with a period of
0.5 s to produce a transverse wave. The wave
reaches the other end in 0.6 s.
(a) v = ?
d 0.9
v= = = 1.5 m s–1
t 0.6
(b) f = ?
1 1
f= = = 2 Hz
T 0.5
(c)  = ?
v 1.5
By v = f,  = = = 0.75 m
f 2
p.32
Checkpoint 3
3 A string is shaken up and down twice in each
second. After a certain time, the following
waveform is produced.
Find A, , f, T and v.
p.33
Checkpoint 3
second. Find A, , f, T and v.
0.1
A= = 0.05 m
2
3 complete cycles of
wave cover 1.5 m.
1.5
= = 0.5 m
3
The string is up and down twice in each second.
 f = 2 Hz
p.34
Checkpoint 3
second. Find A, , f, T and v.
1 1
T = = = 0.5 s
f 2
v = f
= 2  0.5
= 1 m s–1
p.35

Transverse wave model
 To study the relationship between wave
propagation and the vibration of particles
image of coil projected on screen:
travelling transverse wave
plasticine:
a particle on wave
overhead
projector Transverse wave model
p.36
Experiment 4c The transverse wave model
1 Set up the apparatus. Project

the image of the model on the
screen.
2 Stick a piece of plasticine
on the coil. Observe how it
vibrates.
3 Stick several pieces of
plasticine evenly on the coil
and observe how they vibrate.
Video 4.3 Expt 4c - The transverse wave model

Simulation 4.4 Particle movement and wave motion
p.37

a Linking particle vibrations to wave motion
Relationship between a travelling transverse wave

and the particles on it:
 All particles on a wave vibrate with the same
amplitude.
Amplitude of particle vibration = amplitude of wave
p.38

Relationship between a travelling transverse wave

and the particles on it:
 All particles on a wave vibrate with the same
T and f.
 The particle and the wave have the same T

and f.
p.39

The particle and the

wave have the same
T and f.
 One complete particle
vibration
One complete cycle

of wave
 T and f are the same
as those of the
vibrating source.
p.40

b Direction of motion of particles
Consider the waveforms at a very short time before
and after a certain instant.
p.41

b Direction of motion of particles
Particles moving downwards: a, b, h, i, j, p, q

Particles moving upwards: d, e, f, l, m, n
Particles momentarily at rest: c, g, k, o (particles at
crests/troughs)
p.42

c Phase
Particles A, B, C and D vibrate with the same A and
f.
Consider their paths in a certain time lapse.
p.43

c Phase
i In phase
A and D: 1 apart
 Reach maximum displacement
simultaneously
 Always move in the same direction
 In phase
On a travelling wave, two particles separated by

n (where n is an integer), are vibrating in phase.
p.44

c Phase
i Out of phase
A and B:
 A reaches maximum displacement
before B.
 Out of phase with A leading B
(or B lagging behind A)
 Two particles that are not separated by n are

vibrating out of phase.
p.45

c Phase
i Out of phase
1
A and C: 2  apart
 One reaches the crest, the
other reaches the trough.
 Always move in opposite directions
 In antiphase
On a travelling wave, two particles that are

separated by 2
1
 , 1
1
2  , 2
1
2 , …, n + 1
(
2  (where )
n is an integer), are vibrating in antiphase.
p.46
Motion of particles
A waveform at time t is
shown. If particle P is
moving downwards, which of
the following descriptions is correct?
A Both Q and R are moving downwards.
B Q is moving upwards while R is moving
downwards.
C Q is moving upwards while R is momentarily at
rest.
D Q is moving downwards while R is momentarily
at rest.
p.47
Motion of particles
If particle P is moving downwards, which

of the following descriptions is correct?
B Q is moving upwards while R is moving downwards.
C Q is moving upwards while R is momentarily at rest.
D Q is moving downwards while R is momentarily at rest.
P: moving downwards  wave travelling to the left
p.48
Motion of particles
If particle P is moving downwards, which
of the following descriptions is correct?
B Q is moving upwards while R is moving downwards.
C Q is moving upwards while R is momentarily at rest.
D Q is moving downwards while R is momentarily at rest.
Consider the waveform at a very short time after time

t.
At time t: Q is moving upwards.

R is at a crest ∴ momentarily at rest
p.49
Checkpoint 4
1 A waveform at a certain instant is shown.
(a) At this instant, which particles are

(i) momentarily at rest? d, h, l
(ii) moving upwards? e, f, g, m, n
(iii) moving downwards? a, b, c, i, j, k
p.50
Checkpoint 4
(b) Which particles vibrate with the same

amplitude as particle d?
All particles
p.51
Checkpoint 4
(c) Which particle vibrates in phase with

particle e?
m
p.52
Checkpoint 4
(d) Which particles vibrate in antiphase with

particle f ?
b, j
p.53
Checkpoint 4
2 A transverse wave is travelling along a piece of
string. At the moment shown, particle P is
moving downwards.
In which direction does the wave travel?
Towards left
p.54
Experiment 4d Particle speed and wave speed
1 Stretch a long spring on

the floor.
2 Fix one end of the spring.

Flick the other end to
produce a pulse. Observe
the speed of the pulse.
3 Tie a piece of ribbon on the spring. Flick the

spring to produce a continuous wave. Observe if
the speed of the pulse changes.
Video 4.4 Expt 4d - Particle speed and wave speed
p.55

Conclusion from Expt 4d:
1 A wave travels with a constant speed from
one end to the other end of the spring.
2 Each particle keeps changing its speed as it

vibrates.
 Momentarily at rest at crest / trough
 Highest speed at equilibrium position
p.56
Experiment 4e Factors affecting the wave speed along

a spring
1 Stretch a long spring on the floor. Measure the
distance between the two ends.
2 Flick one end of the spring to produce a pulse.

Measure the time needed for the pulse to travel
to the other end. Calculate v.
p.57
Experiment 4e Factors affecting the wave speed along

a spring
3 Repeat step 2 with pulses of different A.
4 Repeat step 2 by stretching the spring to

different lengths.
5 Flick the spring repeatedly to produce a

transverse wave. Then flick it again with a
higher f. Note how the wavelength changes.
Video 4.5 Expt 4e - Factors affecting the wave speed along a spring
p.58

Conclusion from Expt 4e:
1 The wave speed does not depend on the
amplitude of the wave.
2 As the spring is stretched more,

 tension T in the spring 
v
 mass per unit length of the spring 
In fact, v  when T  or  
Generally, v depends on the medium travelled.
 A more stretched spring can be regarded as a
different medium.
p.59

Conclusion from Expt 4e:
3 f
Note that wave speed along a stretched

spring is in general independent of the
frequency.
 When f ,  must 
 v (= f) remains unchanged
p.60
Checkpoint 5
1 A particle on a transverse wave moves with a
(constant / changing) speed.
2 The wave speed in a spring decreases as the

tension in the spring (increases / decreases),
or the mass per unit length of the spring
(increases / decreases).
- The End -
p.61

Unit 4.2: Unit 4.2 Particle Vibrations and Wave Motion

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Unit 4.2: Unit 4.2 Particle Vibrations and Wave Motion

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Book 3B

Let’s begin The Mexican wave

How is the creation of the Mexican wave similar to

Compare the creation of the Mexican wave with

Describing particle vibrations

Describing particle vibrations

The amplitude of particle vibration is the size

Describing particle vibrations

The period of particle vibration is the time for

 Period is a measurement of time.

Describing particle vibrations

Describing particle vibrations

The frequency of particle vibration is the

Example 1 Describing particle vibration

A particle vibrates in a vertical line. The

(b) How many complete vibrations does the

(b) How many complete vibrations does the

Describing wave motion

 Terms that describe particle vibrations are also

Describing wave motion

The amplitude of a wave is the size of the

 Amplitude is a measure of the amount of energy

Describing wave motion

The wavelength of a wave is the minimum

Describing wave motion

 Unit: metre (m)

Describing wave motion

The period of a wave is the time for one

Describing wave motion

The period of a wave is the time for the wave

Example 2 Sketching waveform

A wave (T = 0.5 s) is travelling to the right along a

Describing wave motion

The frequency of a wave is the number of

Example 3 Finding amplitude, wavelength and

Example 3 Finding amplitude, wavelength and

Describing wave motion

The wave speed of a wave is the distance

 Unit: metre per second (m s–1)

Describing wave motion

wave speed = frequency  wavelength

Describing wave motion

Describing wave motion

Example 4 Finding wave speed and applying v = f

An elastic string is stretched to a length of 5 m.

Example 4 Finding wave speed and applying v = f

An elastic string is stretched to a length of 5 m.

Particle vibrations and wave motion

Experiment 4c The transverse wave model

1 Set up the apparatus. Project

Video 4.3 Expt 4c - The transverse wave model

Particle vibrations and wave motion

Relationship between a travelling transverse wave

Particle vibrations and wave motion

Relationship between a travelling transverse wave

 The particle and the wave have the same T

Particle vibrations and wave motion

The particle and the

One complete cycle

Particle vibrations and wave motion

Particle vibrations and wave motion

Particles moving downwards: a, b, h, i, j, p, q