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waves 10 c

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8 views

waves 10 c

Uploaded by

humais.yamin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Waves

O levels
Physics 5054
•Waves transfer energy and information
•Waves are described as oscillations or vibrations about a fixed point
• For example, ripples cause particles of water to oscillate up and
down
• Sound waves cause particles of air to vibrate back and forth
•In all cases, waves transfer energy without transferring matter
• For water waves, this means it is the wave and not the water (the
matter) itself that travels
• For sound waves, this means it is the wave and not the air
molecules (the matter) itself that travels
•Objects floating on water provide evidence that waves only transfer
energy and not matter
Wave Motion
•Wave vibrations can be shown
on ropes (transverse)
and springs (longitudinal)
Motion of Transverse and Longitudinal
Waves
Demonstrating Wave Motion
•Properties of waves, such as frequency,
wavelength and wave speed, can be
observed using water waves in a ripple tank
Ripple Tank
•The wavelength of the waves can be
determined by:
• Using a ruler to measure the length
of the screen
• Dividing this distance by the number
of wavefronts
•The frequency can be determined by:
• Timing how long it takes for a given
number of waves to pass a particular
point
• Dividing the number of wavefronts by
the time taken
•The wave speed can then be
determined by:
• Using the equation wave speed =
Features of a Wave
•When describing wave motion,
there are several terms which
are important to know,
including:

• Crest (Peak)
• Trough
• Amplitude
• Wavelength
• Frequency
• Wave speed
• Wavefront
Crests & Troughs
•A crest, or a peak, is defined as:
The highest point on a wave above the
equilibrium, or rest, position
•A trough is defined as
The lowest point on a wave below the
equilibrium, or rest, position
Amplitude
•Amplitude is defined as:
The distance from the undisturbed position to
the peak or trough of a wave
•It is given the symbol A and is measured in metres
(m)
•Amplitude is the maximum or
minimum displacement from the undisturbed
position
Wavelength
•Wavelength is defined as:
The distance from one point on the wave to the same point on the
next wave
•In a transverse wave:
• The wavelength can be measured from one peak to the next peak
•In a longitudinal wave
• The wavelength can be measured from the centre of one
compression to the centre of the next
•The wavelength is given the symbol λ (lambda) and is measured
in metres (m)
•The distance along a wave is typically put on the x-axis of a wave
diagram
Wavelength and Amplitude
Frequency
•Frequency is defined as:
The number of waves passing a point in a
second
•Frequency is given the symbol f and is
measured in Hertz (Hz)
Wave Speed
•Wave speed is the speed at which energy is
transferred through a medium
•Wave speed is defined as:
The distance travelled by a wave each
second
•Wave speed is given the symbol, ν, and is
measured in metres per second (m/s), it can
be calculated using:
wave speed = frequency × wavelength
Small water waves are created in a ripple tank by a wooden bar. The
wooden bar vibrates up and down hitting the surface of the water. The
diagram below shows a cross-section of the ripple tank and water.

Identify the letter which shows:


a)The amplitude of a water wave.
b)The wavelength of the water
wave.
x
Comparing Transverse &
Longitudinal Waves
Wave behaviour
Reflection
Worked example

• There is a process occur called refraction


• The method we use to demonstrate refraction is ripple tank
• If a sheet of glass is placed in the tank, the depth of water in the tank
will be shallower over the glass than elsewhere. The speed of a wave
in water depends on the depth, so the ripples slow down as they pass
over the glass. This causes the wavelength to decrease.
Worked example

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