Lecture: Waves

DR. J. P GEWALI
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS,
LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY,
PUNJAB, INDIA.
Syllabus of the course
UNIT 1
 Utube link

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 Wave

 A wave is a disturbance in a medium that carries energy without a net

movement of particles.

 It may take the form of elastic deformation, a variation of pressure,

electric or magnetic intensity, electric potential, or temperature.
 Introduction of Waves

 Transfers energy.

 Usually involves a periodic, repetitive Movement.

 Does not result in a net movement of the medium or particles in

the medium (mechanical wave).
There are some basic descriptors of a wave.

Wavelength is the distance between an identical part of the wave.

Amplitude is the maximum displacement from the neutral position.

This represents the energy of the wave. Greater amplitude carries greater
energy.

Displacement is the position of a particular point in the medium as it

moves as the wave passes.

Maximum displacement is the amplitude of the wave

Frequency (ƒ) is the number of repetitions per second in Hz, s -1 Period (T)
is the time for one wavelength to pass a point. T = ƒ-1

The velocity (v) of the wave is the speed that a specific part of the wave
passes a point. The speed of a light wave is c.
 Types of Waves:

 the types of waves are given below.

 Transverse Waves
 Waves in which the medium moves at right angles to the direction of the
wave.
 Examples of transverse waves:
 Water waves (ripples of gravity waves, not sound through water)
 Light waves
 S-wave earthquake waves
 Stringed instruments
 Torsion wave
 The high point of a transverse wave is a crest. The low part is a trough.
 Longitudinal Wave:

 A longitudinal wave has the movement of the particles in the medium in

the same dimension as the direction of movement of the wave.
 Examples of longitudinal waves:
 Sound waves
 P-type earthquake waves
 Compression wave
 Parts of longitudinal waves:
 Compression: where the particles are close together.
 Rarefaction: where the particles are spread apart.
 Electromagnetic Waves:
 Radio signals, light rays, x-rays, and cosmic rays.

Mechanical waves:
 A wave which needs a medium in order to propagate itself. Sound
waves, waves in a Slinky, and water waves are all examples of this.
Matter Waves:
Any moving object can be described as a wave When a stone is dropped
into a pond, the water is disturbed from its equilibrium positions as the
wave passes; it returns to its equilibrium position after the wave has
passed.

Electromagnetic Waves:
These waves are the disturbance that does not need any object medium
for propagation and can easily travel through the vacuum. They are
produced due to various magnetic and electric fields. The periodic
changes that take place in magnetic electric fields and therefore known
as Electromagnetic Wave
 utube

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 Wave Speed Formula

 It is the total distance covered by the wave in a given time period. The
formula for wave speed is given as,

 Wave Speed = Distance Covered/Time taken

 Properties of Waves

 The prime properties of waves are as follows:

 Amplitude – Wave is an energy transport phenomenon. Amplitude is
the height of the wave, usually measured in meters. It is directly related
to the amount of energy carried by a wave.
 Wavelength – The distance between identical points in the adjacent
cycles of crests of a wave is called a wavelength. It is also measured in
meters.
 Period – The period of a wave is the time for a particle on a medium to
make one complete vibrational cycle.
 As the period is time, hence is measured in units of time such as
seconds or minutes.
Can any one tell me what is the amplitude
of the wave here ????
a. 0
b. 2
c. -4
d. 4
 MCQ

 If X axis represents the time taken to travel and Y axis the distance
travelled, What is the time period of the wave ?
 a. 2 sec
 b. 4 sec
 c. 1 sec
 d. 8 sec
Answer to mcq
 Frequency – Frequency of a wave is the number of waves passing a
point in a certain time. The unit of frequency is hertz (Hz) which is
equal to one wave per second.
 The period is the reciprocal of the frequency and vice versa.
 Speed – The speed of an object means how fast an object moves and is
usually expressed as the distance travelled per time of travel. The speed
of a wave refers to the distance travelled by a given point on the wave
(crest) in a given interval of time. That is –

Speed of a wave is thus measured in meter/second i.e. m/s.

 MCQ

 Wave is
 a. disturbance in the medium.
 b. movement of particle
 c. distance covered by particle
 d. none of the above
 MCQ

 If time period of a wave is 2 sec its frequency is

 a. 4 sec
 b. 4 s-1
 c. 0.5 Sec
 d. 0.5 s-1
Difference Between Longitudinal and Transverse Wave
 A wave is a disturbance that propagates energy from one place to
another without transporting any matter.

 The general example would be a stone hitting the surface of the water
and creating ripples that travel in a shape of concentric circles with its
radius increasing until they strike the boundary of the pond.
 There are various types of waves and the two of those would be
longitudinal and transverse waves.

 In a longitudinal wave, the medium or the channel moves in the

same direction with respect to the wave. Here, the movement of the
particles is from left to right and force other particles to vibrate.

 In a transverse wave will the medium or the channel moves

perpendicular to the direction of the wave. Here, the particles move up
and down as the waves move horizontally.
 For types of waves

 https://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/Demos/waves/wavemotion.html
In longitudinal waves the vibrations are parallel to the direction of
wave travel

Examples of longitudinal waves include:

 sound waves
 ultrasound waves
 seismic P-waves

One way to remember the movement of particles in longitudinal waves is

to use the ‘P’ sound: longitudinal waves such as seismic P-waves may be
thought of as pressure or push waves as the particles move parallel to
the wave.
In tranverse waves, the vibrations are at right angles to the direction of wave travel.

Examples of transverse waves include:

 ripples on the surface of water
 vibrations in a guitar string
 a Mexican wave in a sports stadium
 electromagnetic waves – eg light waves, microwaves, radio waves
 seismic S-waves

One way to remember the movement of particles in transverse waves is to use

the ‘S’ sound: transverse waves such as seismic S-waves may be thought of
as shake or shear waves as the particles move from side-to-side – crossing
the direction of wave travel.
The wave formula for the velocity of sound is given by,
V=fλ
Where,
 v = velocity of the wave,
 f = frequency of the wave,
 λ = wavelength.
 Solved Examples

 Example 1
A light wave travels with a wavelength of 700 nm. Determine its frequency.

To solve the problem we require velocity of light…..

Velocity of light is
a. 3 X 108 m/s
b. 2 X 108 m/s
c. 4 X 105 m/s
d. 3X 107 m/s
 700 nm means
a. 700 X 10-9 m
b. 700 X 10-8 m
c. 700 X 10-6 m
d. 700 X 10-5m
 MCQ

 Frequency of wave is given by formula

 a. f = c / λ
 b. f = c λ
 c. f = λ/c
 d. f = v + λ
 So now solve the problem using all
700 nm means 700 X 10-9 m
 Frequency of wave is given by formula f = c / λ
Velocity of light is 3 X 108 m/s

A light wave travels with a wavelength of 700 nm. Determine its frequency.
a. 4.2 ×1011 Hz
b. 4.2 ×1012 Hz
c. 4.2 ×1013 Hz
d. 4.2 ×1014 Hz
 A light wave travels with a wavelength of 700 nm. Determine its frequency

 Solution:
 Given:
 Wavelength λ = 700 nm,
 Velocity of light v = 3 x 108 m/s
 The frequency is calculated by,
 f=v/λ
 = 3×108 / 700×10-9
 f = 4.2 ×1014 Hz.
 Therefore, the frequency of the light wave is 4.2 ×1014 Hz
 Frequency is
 a. f=1/T
 b. f=T
 c. f= 1/T2
 d. f = T3
 Example 2: A sound wave has a wavelength of 2.5 mm. Determine its
frequency.
 Solution: Given: Wavelength λ = 2.5 cm,Velocity of sound v = 343.2 m/s.

 The frequency is calculated by, f = v / λ

 a. 1.72 kHz c. 13.72 kHz
 b. 3.72 kHz d. 7.2 kHz
 Example 2: A sound wave has a wavelength of 2.5 cm. Determine its
frequency.
 Solution: Given:Wavelength λ = 2.5 cm,
 Velocity of sound v = 343.2 m/s.
 The frequency is calculated by,
 f=v/λ
 f = 343.2 / 2.5×10-2
 f = 13.72 kHz.
 Therefore, the frequency of the sound wave is 13.72 kHz.
 utube

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 Wave
or simply
wave
 A progressive wave is defined as the onward transmission of the vibratory motion of a body in an
elastic medium from one particle to the successive particle.
Equation of a plane progressive wave
 An equation can be formed to represent generally the displacement of a vibrating particle in a
medium through which a wave passes.
 Thus each particle of a progressive wave executes simple harmonic motion of the same period
and amplitude differing in phase from each other.
 Let us assume that a progressive wave travels from the origin O along
the positive direction of X axis, from left to right (Fig). The
displacement of a particle at a given instant is
 y = a sin ωt …... (1)
 where a is the amplitude of the vibration of the particle and ω = 2πn.
 The displacement of the particle P at a distance x from O at a given instant is
given by,
 y = a sin (ωt - φ) …... (2)

If the two particles are separated by a distance λ, they will differ by a phase of 2π.
Therefore, the phase φ of the particle P at a distance x is
φ = (2π/λ) x
 y = a sin (ωt - 2πx/λ) …... (3)
Since ω = 2πn = 2π (v/λ), the equation is given by,
y = a sin [(2πvt/λ) - (2πx/λ)]

y = a sin 2π/λ (vt – x) …... (4)

Since, ω = 2π/T, the equation (3) can also be written as,

y = a sin 2π (t/T – x/λ) …... (5)

If the wave travels in opposite direction, the equation becomes,

y = a sin 2π (t/T + x/λ) …... (6)
 (i) Variation of phase with time

 The phase changes continuously with time at a constant distance.

 At a given distance x from O let φ1 and φ2 be the phase of a particle at
time t1 and t2 respectively.
 φ1 = 2π (t1/T - x/λ)
 φ2 = 2π (t2/T - x/λ)
 φ2 – φ1 = 2π (t2/T – t1/T) = 2π/T (t2 – t1)
 Δφ = (2π/T) Δt
 This is the phase change ?φ of a particle in time interval Δt. If t = T,
 Δφ = 2π.
 This shows that after a time period T, the phase of a particle becomes the same.
 (ii) Variation of phase with distance

 At a given time t phase changes periodically with distance x.

 Let φ1 and φ 2 be the phase of two particles at distance x1 and x2 respectively
from the origin at a time t.
 Then, φ1 = 2π (t/T - x1/λ)
 φ2 = 2π (t/T - x2/λ)
 So, φ2 – φ1 = – 2π/λ (x2 – x1)
 Thus, Δφ = – 2π/λ (Δx)
 The negative sign indicates that the forward points lag in phase when the wave
travels from left to right.
 When Δx = λ, Δφ = 2π, the phase difference between two particles having a path
difference λ is 2π.
 Phase difference

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_oujF9RHK8
 Characteristics of progressive wave

 (a) Each particle of the medium executes vibration about its mean position.
The disturbance progresses onward from one particle to another.
 (b) The particles of the medium vibrate with same amplitude about their
mean positions.
 (c) Each successive particle of the medium performs a motion similar to that
of its predecessor along the propagation of the wave, but later in time.
 (d) The phase of every particle changes from 0 to 2π.
 (e) No particle remains permanently at rest. Twice during each vibration, the
particles are momentarily at rest at extreme positions, different particles
attain the position at different time.
 Characteristics of progressive wave

 (f) Transverse progressive waves are characterised by crests and

troughs. Longitudinal waves are characterised by compressions and
rarefactions.
 (g) There is a transfer of energy across the medium in the direction of
propagation of progressive wave.
 (h) All the particles have the same maximum velocity when they pass
through the mean position.
 (i) The displacement, velocity and acceleration of the particle separated
by mλ are the same, where m is an integer.
 mcq

 Sound travels fastest in?

 (a) vacuum (b) steel (c) air (d) water
 Sound whose frequency is 50 Hz
 (a). has a relatively long wavelength
 (b) is very loud
 (c) is very intense
 (d) has a relatively short wavelength
 Simple Harmonic Motion

 What is Simple Harmonic Motion?

 Simple Harmonic Motion or SHM is defined as a motion in which the
restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement of the body
from its mean position. The direction of this restoring force is always
towards the mean position.
 Utube

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 Simple Harmonic, Periodic and Oscillation Motion

 Simple harmonic motion can be described as an oscillatory motion in which

the acceleration of the particle at any position is directly proportional to the
displacement from the mean position.
 It is a special case of oscillatory motion.

 All the Simple Harmonic Motions are oscillatory and also periodic but not
all oscillatory motions are SHM.
 Oscillatory motion is also called the harmonic motion of all the oscillatory motions
wherein the most important one is simple harmonic motion (SHM).

 In this type of oscillatory motion displacement, velocity and acceleration and force
vary (w.r.t time) in a way that can be described by either sine (or) the cosine
functions collectively called sinusoids.
 Difference between Periodic, Oscillation and Simple Harmonic Motion

 Periodic Motion
 A motion repeats itself after an equal interval of time. For
example, uniform circular motion.
 There is no equilibrium position.
 There is no restoring force.
 There is no stable equilibrium position.
 Oscillation Motion

 To and fro motion of a particle about a mean position is called an oscillatory motion in which a particle moves on

either side of equilibrium (or) mean position is an oscillatory motion.

 It is a kind of periodic motion bounded between two extreme points. For example, Oscillation of Simple

Pendulum, Spring-Mass System.

 The object will keep on moving between two extreme points about a fixed point is called mean position (or)

equilibrium position along any path. (the path is not a constraint).

 There will be a restoring force directed towards equilibrium position (or) mean position.

 In an oscillatory motion, the net force on the particle is zero at the mean position.

 The mean position is a stable equilibrium position.

 Simple Harmonic Motion or SHM
 It is a special case of oscillation along with straight line between the two
extreme points (the path of SHM is a constraint).
 Path of the object needs to be a straight line.
 There will be a restoring force directed towards equilibrium position
(or) mean position.
 Mean position in Simple harmonic motion is a stable equilibrium.
 MCQ

 1. The periodic time (tp) is given by

a) ω / 2 π
b). 2 π / ω
c) 2 π × ω
d) π/ω
 Answer: b
Explanation: Periodic time is the time taken for one complete
revolution of the particle.
∴ Periodic time, tp = 2 π/ω seconds.
 The velocity of a particle moving with simple harmonic motion is . . . . at
the mean position.
a) zero
b) minimum
c) maximum
d) none of the mentioned
 Answer: c
Explanation: At mean the value of x = 0. Therefore, it is maximum at
mean position.
Vmax = ω.r.