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Physics
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The study of matter

Chapter 1:
1 End
Waves
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Physics: Chapter 1
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Objectives:
(what you will learn)

1) understanding Waves
< Back 2) reflection of waves
Next >
3) refraction of waves
4) diffraction of waves
5) interference of waves
6) analysing sound waves
2 End 7) analysing electromagnetic waves
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Physics

Understanding Waves:
1. A wave is a traveling disturbance from a
< Back vibrating or oscillating source.
Next >
2. A wave carries energy along with it in the
direction of its propagation.

3. A wave is a mean of energy transfer

through vibration.
3 End
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Waves
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Transverse Wave
Particles in the medium vibrate in a direction
perpendicular to the direction of wave
propagation.
< Back

Next > Perpendicular

= 90o to the
line of direction.

Examples:
wave in a rope
water waves
4 End
light waves
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Longitudinal Wave
Particles in the medium vibrate in a direction
parallel (0o to line of direction) to the
direction of wave propagation.
< Back

Next > Examples:

wave in a slinky spring
sound wave

5 End
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Surface Waves
This is both transverse waves & longitudinal
waves mixed in one medium.
Examples:
< Back
earthquake or seismic wave
Next > shear wave in a slinky spring

Wavefront
A surface on the wave where all particles vibrate
in phase (coming together to the same level).

Oscillations
6 End Vibration or oscillation of particles in a medium is
like oscillation of simple pendulum or loaded spring.
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Waves
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Complete Oscillation
Complete cycle;
e.g. motion from A to B & back to A.

< Back
Amplitude, a
Maximum displacement from equilibrium position
Next >
that is halfway between crest (high) & trough (low).

Period, T
Time taken for a complete oscillation.

Frequency, f
Number of complete oscillation in one second;
7 End
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Waves
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Speed of wave, v
Distance traveled by wave per second, v = f
Free Oscillation
Occurs when a system oscillates without any
< Back external force acting on it.
Next >
Natural Frequency, fn
Frequency of a free oscillation.

Simple pendulum Loaded vertical spring

8 End
l = length, g = gravity m = mass, k = constant
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Waves
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Damped Oscillation
An oscillation whose amplitude decreases due to
energy loss from the system (as heat to air
resistance).
< Back
Forced Oscillation
Next >
An oscillation produced when a system is forced
into oscillation by an external periodic force.

Resonance
Occurs when a system which is forced into
oscillation oscillates with large amplitude; the
condition being that the frequencies of both systems
9 End
are equal to each other.
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Reflection of Waves
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Angle of reflection = angle of incidence

Reflected wave has same speed, frequency, &
wavelength as the incident wave.

< Back

Next >
v v

i r
10 End
Angle of reflection, r = Angle of incidence, i
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Refraction of Waves
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Refraction of wave
The change in velocity of wave when it travels from
one medium to another.

Water & light waves are refracted towards Normal

< Back when moving into shallower or denser region
Next > (frequency unchanged, speed & wavelength
decrease), and away from
Normal the other way round.

But sound waves behave

in the opposite way.

(Try relate it to the

11 End
resistances of medium)
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Diffraction of Waves
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Diffraction is the spreading of waves after passing

a narrow slit or an obstacle.

Waves are diffracted more if:

a. the slit is narrower
< Back b. the wavelength is longer
Next >
Light has very short
wavelengths, diffraction
occurs only for slits with width
of 10-4 m or less.

Sound has long wavelengths, diffraction of sound

12 End
waves enable sound to go around corners.
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Interference of Waves
Principle of superposition of waves
Displacement y, produced by 2 waves at a point is
the vector sum of displacements y1 & y2 produced
by each of the waves.
< Back
y = y1 + y2
Next >

Interference = effect produced by superposition of

waves from 2 coherent sources.

Coherent sources = if they oscillate in phase, or

antiphase, or with same phase difference & they
13 End have the same frequency.
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Interference of Waves
antinode:
constructive superposition from 2 crests or troughs
node:
destructive superposition from crest & trough
< Back antinodal line
Next > Separation between 2 nodal line
consecutive antinodal x
or nodal lines at
distance D from
the 2 sources: D

D
14 End x= a
a
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Sound Waves
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Sound waves are produced by vibrating sources.

They are longitudinal waves requiring a medium
for propagation. It cannot travel in vacuum.

Applications of reflection of sound wave:

< Back a. sonar or high frequency sound waves used to
Next > determine depth of ocean
b. Ultrasonography uses ultrasound waves to
examine condition of fetus, the reflected waves
used to form an image on a monitor.
c. Ultrasound is also used to detect tumour in the
body
d. Reflection of ultrasound from rocks used in
15 End
geological survey.
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Electromagnetic Waves
Common properties:
a. Need no medium, can travel in vacuum.
b. Travels at constant speed of light,
c = 3 x 108 m s-1 in vacuum.
c. Transverse waves.
< Back
d. Wave properties like reflection, refraction,
Next >
diffraction & interference.
Name Sources Applications
Radio waves, microwaves Inductor-capacitor circuit Radio, radar
Infra-red Hot objects, Sun Heating, remote control, night vision
Visible light Sun, lamps Photography, fibre optics
Ultraviolet Very hot bodies, Sun, tubes Fluorescent lamp, sterilizer, sun bed
X-rays X-ray tube X-ray photography, radiotherapy,
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Gamma rays Radioactive nuclei
detection of cracks
Radiotherapy, sterilizer
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Summary
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What you have learned:

1. Understanding Waves
2. Reflection of waves
< Back
3. Refraction of waves
4. Diffraction of waves
5. Interference of waves
6. Sound & electromagnetic waves

17 End Thank You

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