WAVE AND

OPTICS
Form 3 Physics
BAHSE
Miss K. Boodai
Objectives
By the end of this presentation you should be able to:
 Differentiate between different types of waves and give examples of each.
 Label a crest and a trough of both transverse and longitudinal waves.
 Define and label the wavelength, time period, frequency, amplitude and wave speed of a wave.
 Represent each of the properties of waves mentioned above on a displacement-time graph and a
displacement-position graph.
 Briefly define refraction, diffraction, reflection and interference.
Introduction
Waves occur frequently in nature. The most obvious example is waves in water., in the
ocean or in a bucket of water. We are most interested in the properties that waves
possess.
What are waves?
Waves are disturbances which propagate (move) through a medium. Waves can be viewed as
the TRANSFER of ENERGY and NOT the MOVEMENT of a particle. Particles form the
medium through which waves propagate but they are not the wave.
Let us consider water waves. Water waves consist of moving peaks and troughs. A peak is
where the water rises high than when the water is still and a trough is a place where the
water sinks lower than when the water is still.
A single peak and through is called a pulse (one wavelength).
A wave consists of a train of pulses (many wavelengths).
Properties of waves
Our first property of waves is that they have peaks (crests) and troughs. The diagram below shows the
peaks and troughs on a wave. 

The dotted line shows the position if the water was still. If we look carefully, we can see that the height
of the peaks are the same depth as the troughs below the level of the still water. The size of the peaks
and the troughs is the same. 
Characteristic of Waves: Amplitude
• The characteristic height of a peak/ crest or depth of a trough is called the amplitude of a
wave. 
• The vertical distance between the height of a peak and the depth of a trough is  called the
peak-to-peak value and is twice the value of the amplitude. 
• The letter ‘A’ is used to denote amplitude of a wave. The units of amplitude are in meters (m). 
Wave Characteristics: Wavelength

The wavelength of the

wave on the
displacement- distance
Click to add text graph is 2.0m

The wavelength of the

purple wave in the
displacement- distance
graph is 0.4m.
The amplitude of this
wave is 10cm. Putting
this value in SI units,
the Amplitude, A= 0.1m

Wave
Characteristics:
The displacement- Amplitude
position graph clearly
shows the amplitude
of the wave as well as
the peak to peak
amplitude.
Characteristics of Waves: Wavelength
The distance between two adjacent (next to each other) peaks is the same no matter which two
adjacent peaks you choose. Looking closely, you will see that the distance between two adjacent
troughs is the same no matter which two troughs you look at. This characteristic of the wave is
called wavelength. 
A wavelength is therefore defined as the distance between two adjacent points which are in
phase. The symbol for wavelength is lambda. The units are meters (m). 
 Characteristics of Waves: Period

If you measure the time between two adjacent peaks or troughs you will realize that it’s
the same. This time is the time for one wavelength to pass. We call this time the Period and
it is a characteristic of a wave.
The period of a wave is the time taken for one wavelength to pass.
The period is denoted by the letter ‘T’ and is measured in seconds (s).
Characteristics of Waves: Period
The period of the wave is 4s

Click to add text

The Black wave has a time

period, T of 0.4s. The Red wave
has a time period of T= 0.8s.
Characteristics of Waves: Frequency
Another way of characterizing the time interval of a wave is by timing how many waves go by in
one second.
We can easily determine this number by working out the fraction of a wave that goes by in one
second by dividing 1 second by the time it takes for a whole wavelength to pass, T.
This quantity is called frequency which is defined as the number of complete vibrations per
second.
Frequency of a wave is denoted by ‘f’ and is measured in Hertz (Hz) or per second (s^-1).
Characteristics of
Waves: Frequency
In a previous slide, we noted the time period of both
the black and red waves. Let’s look at each in turn:
Black wave: T=0.4 s
f= 1/T
f= 1/.04
f= 2.5 Hz

Red wave:
T= 0.8 s
f=1/T
f= 1/0.8
f= 1.25 Hz
TYPES OF
WAVES
 Transverse Waves

Thus far, all the examples used was

that of water waves. We examined
moving peaks and troughs in a medium
There is another type of wave called a
to constitute a wave. It is possible to
longitudinal wave. In a longitudinal wave
have waves where the peaks and
has peaks and troughs in the same
troughs are perpendicular to the
direction as the wave is moving.
direction of the motion, like in the case
of water waves. These waves are called
transverse waves.
Transverse Waves
In a transverse wave, the particles move up and down, so the direction
of their movement is at right angles to the direction of wave
propagation
Example: water waves, plucking a guitar string and electromagnetic
waves.
A slinky can be used to model transverse wave by moving one end of
the slinky up and down.
Transverse Waves
In the slinky, notice:
1. The wave travels away from the source.
2. The direction of the wave makes a right angle with the movement
of the coils.
3. The coils do not travel horizontally, each coil of the slinky just
vibrates up and down.
Longitudinal
Wave
In a longitudinal wave, the
particles vibrate back and
forth, so the direction of their
movement is parallel to the
direction of the wave.
Example: sound wave
A slinky can be used to model
longitudinal waves by moving
one end of the slinky left and
right.
Longitudinal Waves
Notice from the previous slide:
1. The wave travels away from the source.
2. The wave direction is parallel to the movement of the source.
3. The coils do not travel horizontally; each coil of the slinky just
vibrates left and right about a fixed point.
Longitudinal Waves
As the slinky travels from source to the other end, it undergoes a series
of compression and rarefactions. This is equivalent to crests and
troughs, respectively. The concept is shown below.
 Waves may also be classified as
either being progressive or
stationary.

Progressive
and A progressive wave are those that
transfer energy from one point to the
Stationary next.

Waves
Stationary waves do not transfer
energy (not in CSEC syllabus).
Summary
Summary
• A pulse is a single disturbance that propagates from one point to a next.
• A wave is a continuous stream of regular disturbances.
• Amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of the vibration or
oscillation from it’s mean point.
• Wavelength is the distance between successive points in phase.
• Period is the time for one complete oscillation.
• Frequency is the number of complete oscillations per second.
Summary
• A transverse wave is a wave in which the particles move at right
angles (perpendicular) to the direction of wave propagation.
• A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the particles vibrate back and
forth (parallel) to the direction of wave travel.
• A progressive wave transfers energy from one point to a next.
• A stationary wave do not transfer energy. (Not in CSEC syllabus).
 What do
Physicists
enjoy doing
the most at
football
Joke games?
Joke
The WAVE!