Waves

Objectives of the Lesson

Describe what is meant by wave motion
Compare two types motion- Longitudinal and
Transverse
State what is wavefront
State direction of propagation of wave
Define amplitude, period, frequency, wavelength, and
wave speed
Sketch and interpret a displacement time graph for a
wave
Sketch and interpret a displacement Distance graph
for a wave

Waves Introduction
A wave can be described as a disturbance
that travels through a medium from one
place to another.

Medium a substance which something is

transmitted or carried through e.g.. air

Examples of waves
Sea wave (mediumliquid, water)

Shotgun blast
(medium- gas, air)

Types of Waves- Transverse

Wave motion vs Particle motion

Watch one particle

Describe its motion

Transverse wave
Light travels as a transverse wave
Crest

Crest
Wavelength

Wave movement

Trough

Wave spreads

Amplitude

Trough

Wave movement is at right angles to

the direction that the wave is travelling

Amplitude
maximum
displacement from
its undisturbed
position
Wavelength
distance from one
point on one wave
to the same point
on the next wave
(for example- from
crest to crest)

In terms of the wavelength, what is the length of

the red line on the graph?

Types of Waves- Longitudinal

Wave motion vs Particle motion

Keep your eye on 1 particle

Describe its motion

Longitudinal wave
Rarefaction

Compression

Sound waves
travel as
longitudinal
waves
Frequency the
number of waves
passing a point
every second
(Hz)

Wave movement is parallel to the direction the wave is

travelling
If the diagram shows the motion of the wave in 1
second then what is the frequency of the wave?

Water Waves
Water waves are an example of waves
that involve a combination of both
longitudinal and transverse motions. As a
wave travels through the water, the
particles travel in clockwise circles.

Longitudinal Vs Transverse
Create a table with two column headings,
Longitudinal and Transverse
This is how sound
energy moves
Wave motion is at
right angles to the
direction of the wave

Frequency is the
number of waves
passing a point in one
second

Wave motion is parallel to

the direction of the wave

Amplitude is maximum
displacement from the
waves rest position

Wavelength is the
distance from one
compression to the
next compression

Wavelength is the
distance from one
crest to the next
crest
This is how
light travels

Graph action

http://surendranath.tripod.com/Applets/Waves/Twave01/Twave01Applet.html

Objectives of the Lesson

Recall the wave equation and use it to
solve simple problems
Describe, using simple wavefront
diagrams, how plane waves are
reflected at a plane barrier, refracted
at a plane boundary

The Wave Equation

Speed (v) = Frequency (f) x Wavelength ()
m/s
Hz
m

Example
What is the speed of a water wave of
frequency 4 Hz and wavelength 3 cm?
v=fx
= 4 x (3 / 100)
= 0.12 m/s

Try this one

What is the wavelength of a sound wave of
frequency 264 Hz and speed 330 m/s?
v=fx

330 = 264 x
= 330 / 264 = 1.25 m
What is the distance between one compression and
the next rarefraction on this wave?
1.25 / 2 = 0.625 m

Question Time
Pg 105 Question 1 a) parts i) iv)

Objectives of the Lesson

Describe, using simple wavefront
diagrams, how plane waves are
reflected at a plane barrier, refracted
at a plane boundary

Ripple Tank
Trough

Wave motion

Crest

Wave Diagrams
Law of Reflection- The angle of
incidence is always equal to the angle of
reflection

Wave front
(crest)

Example
Normal
line

23

The angle the wave hits the

barrier at is 23 degrees.

Angle of
reflection 67

Angle of
incidence 67

1. What is the angle of

incidence?

2. Draw the three waves

after they have hit the
barrier and label the angle
of reflection and include the
normal line.

Objectives of the Lesson

Describe, using simple wavefront
diagrams, how plane waves are
reflected at a plane barrier, refracted
at a plane boundary

Shallow
water

Deep water

Refraction
Refraction- For a wave moving from deep to
shallow, the wavelength will shorten because the
wave slows down.
wavefront

Deep water

Shallow
water

Shorter
Wavelengthwaves speed
slower

The frequency of the wave stays the same

Refraction
If the incident wave travels at an angle and
meets shallow water, then the wave will be
refracted (shifted) towards the normal
Angle of incidence > Angle of refraction

Angle of incidence
Angle of
refraction

Deep water

Shallow
water
Normal line

Refraction
What do you think will happen when a
wave travels into deeper water? Draw a
diagram with labels to represent the
situation.