 All waves transmit energy.

 They are created by a vibrating

source and consist of a series of
pulses or disturbances that occur at
regular intervals.
 The particles in a wave vibrate
however they do not move along with
the wave, only the wave front itself
moves on.

 A pulse is a single non-repeated

disturbance passing through a
medium.
 Electromagnetic waves are able to
transmit energy through a vacuum
as well as solids, liquids, and gases.

 Since they are able to move through

a vacuum, they do not need
vibrating particles to transmit
energy.
 Examples of Electromagnetic waves
include
- Cosmic - Visible light
- Gamma - Infrared
- X-ray - Microwave
- Ultraviolet - Radio
 Mechanical waves can be
transmitted through solids, liquids,
and gases.

 Mechanical waves do need vibrating

particles to transmit energy.
 Mechanical waves are separated into
2 categories depending upon the
motion of the vibrating particles:
- Transverse waves (for example
water waves)

- Longitudinal or Compression
waves. (for example
sound waves)
 In a transverse wave, the particles
vibrate perpendicular to the
direction of motion of the wave.

 The equilibrium position of the

surface is its original resting position
this is also called the nodal line.
 The point of maximum displacement
upward from the resting position is
called the crest.

 The point of maximum displacement

downward from the resting position
is called the trough.
 A wavelength is the distance from
one point on a wave to the identical
point on the next consecutive wave,
for example, from crest to crest or
trough to trough.
 The amplitude of the wave is the
amount of maximum displacement
of the wave, in other words the
distance from the crest to the
nodal line (resting position) or
from the trough to the nodal line.
 Amplitude is determined by the
energy put into the vibration or the
work done to create the vibration.

 The greater the energy content of the

wave, the greater the amplitude.
 A node is a point midway between a
crest and a trough in which the
particle is at the original resting
position.

 Connecting the nodes along a wave

would define the nodal line or the
original resting position.
crest wavelength

amplitude

amplitude

trough wavelength
 In a longitudinal wave, the particles
vibrate parallel to the direction of
motion of the wave.
Compression Wavelength

Rarefaction
 The region in which the particles are
close together is called a
compression.
 The region of a longitudinal wave in
which the particles are spread out is
called a rarefaction.
 A wavelength is composed of a
complete rarefaction and a complete
compression.
Compression Wavelength

Rarefaction
 Frequency is the amount a wave cycle
that occurs in one second
 Period and frequency are inversely
related.
 Formula for frequency of a wave:
f=1/T
 Frequency is measured in Hertz. A
Hertz is sec-1.
 The Period is the amount of time it
takes for one complete cycle.
 Formula for the period of a wave:
T=1/f
 Period is measured in seconds.
 Period and frequency are inversely
related.
Example Problem 1: A sonar signal
has a frequency of 400 Hz , what is
it’s period?

Given Formula

f = 400 Hz T = 1/f

Solution
Answer
T = 1/400 = 0.0025 seconds
1. A swing has a period of 5 seconds.
What is the frequency? 0.2 Hz

2. A pendulum has a frequency of 0.5 Hz.

What is the period? 2 seconds

3. A toy airplane is attached to a string

and flies in circles from a fixed point.
The airplane completes 2 circles in 5
seconds. What is the period of the
plane? What is the frequency?
T = 2.5 seconds f = 0.4 Hz
 v = f
where v is the wave speed in m/s
f is the frequency in Hz
 is the wavelength in meters
Example Problem 2: A car alarm
sounds at a frequency of 450 Hz and a
wavelength of 0.75 m. What is the
speed of the sound wave?

Given Formula
F = 450 Hz v = fλ
λ = 0.75 m

Solution Answer
v = (450 Hz)(0.75 m) = 337.5 m/s
1. A train whistle has a frequency of 400
Hz and a wavelength of 0.875 m. What
is the speed of the sound wave?
v = 350 m/s
2. A foghorn blows with a frequency of
200 Hz and a wavelength of 1.7 m.
What is the speed of the sound wave?
v = 340 m/s
3. A horn produces a sound wave of
wavelength 0.6 m and velocity 330 m/s
What is the frequency of the wave?
f = 550 Hz
There are 3 conditions necessary for
the transmission of a sound wave:
 There must be a vibrating source to
produce the sound,
 A medium with particles to transmit
the sound, and
 A receiver to detect the sound.
 The pitch of a sound is determined
by the frequency of the wave.
 The amplitude of the wave
determines the loudness of a sound
wave.
 Each of these features is
independent of each other.
 In other words a sound can have a
high pitch and be either soft or loud.