Waves

Introduction: Displacement, transverse wave and longitudinal wave

Waves : Introduction
What are waves? Waves are disturbances or vibrations of particles that transmit energy from a point to another point. As the waves move further and further away from the source of vibrations, energy carried by waves is reducing as it moves further. Waves travel through a medium; but some waves can pass through vacuum (eg. Light).

Waves : Introduction
Are particles travelling as the waves are in motion? The motion of particles are revolving or vibrating about the same point. What thing is transported by waves? Where does it come from and pass to? Energy is transported by waves. It is absorbed by the waves when external forces causes the particles to move. It is then passed on to the next nearest particles.

Waves : Examples
Sound waves, light waves, radio waves, microwaves, X-ray, infrared and ultraviolet etc.. Sound waves: Produced by vibration of particles (molecules of substances such as air or metal). Electromagnetic waves: Produced by vibration of electrical charges at different frequencies.

Waves : Two basic types

Longitudinal waves Transverse waves
The displacement of a particle moving in a wave is measured from the equilibrium position. / rest position. For transverse wave, the displacement is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. For longitudinal wave, the displacement is parallel to the direction of propagation of the wave.

Displacement
Displacement is the distance moved by an object in a specified direction. It has the same SI unit as distance, which is m.
Suppose a particle vibrates about x axis and the whole x axis is the rest or equilibrium position.

y
10 5
0

What is the displacement of the particle? Ans. +10 units above rest position. What is the displacement of the particle now? Ans. 5 units below rest position.

5 10

For up and down movement; positive displacement means the particle is above the rest position and negative displacement means the particle is below the rest position.

Displacement
If the particle vibrates about y axis and the whole y axis is the rest or equilibrium position.
What is the displacement of the particle?
Ans. +6 units on the right hand side of the rest position.

What is the displacement of the particle now?

Ans. 3 units on the left hand side of the rest position.

6 3

For left and right movement; positive displacement means the particle is on the right hand side of the rest position and negative displacement means the particle is on the left hand side of the rest position.

Transverse wave
Motion of waves

Transverse wave 3 (practice)

Find the maximum displacement (amplitude) of the wave. Find the displacement of the black, blue, What is the wavelength? 1 cm green and pink particles.

16 cm

amplitude

1 cm

amplitude

Amplitude of the wave = 6 cm

0 cm

5 cm

4 cm Motion of waves 3 cm

Equilibrium position

Longitudinal wave 1

Start

Longitudinal wave 2

Start

Longitudinal wave 3: Practice

Find the displacement of the particles of line Motion of waves 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2 cm

Centres of equilibrium positions

Line 1: 0 cm
Line 4: 3 cm

Line 6: 3 cm
Line 7: 4 cm

Line 9: 0 cm
Line 11: 4 cm

Transverse wave

Amplitude

Motion of wave
Amplitude

Level of medium when it is at rest (equilibrium position)

Troughs
Peaks or crests

Longitudinal wave

Motion of wave

Areas of compression: This is the areas where molecules experiences maximum pressure

Areas of rarefaction: This is the areas where molecules experiences minimum pressure

Transverse wave
Graph of displacement of particles against distance
displacement / cm

Amplitude

distance / cm

Amplitude

Transverse wave
Graph of displacement of particles against time
displacement / cm

T: Period
Amplitude

time / s

Amplitude

Longitudinal wave
Graph of displacement of particles against distance
displacement / cm

Amplitude Amplitude displacement / cm

Current position

Centre of compression

Centre of rarefaction

Equilibrium position

Longitudinal wave
Graph of displacement of particles against distance
displacement / cm

Amplitude Amplitude displacement / cm

pressure / N/cm2

displacement / cm