Wave Motion

In general, an oscillation or vibrating motion in which a point or body

moves back and forth along a line about a fixed central point produces
waves.

How does waves transfer energy?

Waves are vibration that transmit energy away from an energy

source
The energy source is often in the form of a vibration or oscillation.

Energy Transfer
Source
Or
Disturbance

Medium

The water in an ocean wave, for example, moves mainly up and

down as it passes, you bob up and down with it rather than being
carried onto the shore.

An oscillating or vibrating system acts as the source of waves which

transfer energy from one point to another without transferring mass

Propagation / Travelling of Waves

1. When a wave travels through a medium, the particles of the medium
vibrate about their equilibrium positions.
2. The particles of the medium do not travel in the direction of the
waves.
Wave motion

Medium : water moleculers

Propagation / Travelling of Waves

Water waves
Disturbance

Medium

Energy Transfer

Wavefront
A wavefront is a line or plane on which the vibrations of every points
on it are in a phase and are at the same distance from the source of
the waves AD,BE, CF the lines that join the point along the troughs of the
waves.
Points in a wave are in a phase if they vibrate in the same direction
with the same displacement.

wavefront

Direction of travel
Circular wavefront

A round dipper

The wavefronts of tranverse wave and longitudinal

wave are perpendincular to the direction of propogation
of the wave

A bar dipper

Plane wavefront

Two types of waves

Transverse waves

Longitudinal waves

Transverse waves

A transverse waves is a wave in which the vibration of particles in the

medium is perpendicular (at right angle) to the direction of
propagation of the wave.
Example : water wave, light wave and radio wave.

This animation is taken from Absorb Physics for GCSE - Crocodile Clips Ltd.
For more information, visit: www.crocodile-clips.com

Longitudinal waves

A longitudinal waves is a waves in which the vibration of particles in the

medium is parallel (along) to the direction of propagation of the wave

Transverse waves

Longitudinal waves

Transverse wave

Longitudinal wave

Longitudinal wave

Describing waves

Wavelength
Amplitude
Frequency
Wave speed
Period
Displacement time graph

Describing waves

Wave speed
velocity of waves, velocity = frequency x wavelength

v = f
The frequency of the vibrator of a ripple tanks is 8 Hz.
The wave generated has a wavelength of 0.02m.The
speed of the wave is.
f = 8 Hz, = 0.02 m , V = ?

v = f
-1

V = 8 x 0.02 = 0.16 ms

Sort out the jumble!

The number of waves per second

Velocity

in m/s

The speed of the wave

Amplitude

Wavelength

in Hz

in metres

Frequency

Answers

Amplitude
in metres
Wavelength
Frequency The number of waves per second in Hz
Velocity

The speed of the wave in m/s

The number of waves per second

Velocity

in m/s

The speed of the wave

Amplitude

Wavelength

in Hz

in metres

Frequency

Group the correct names, descriptions and pictures together

Reflection

Refraction

Diffraction
Waves changing
direction because of
changing speed
Waves spreading out
after passing through
a narrow gap
Waves bouncing off
a surface

Answers
Group the correct names, descriptions and pictures together

Diffraction

Waves spreading out

after passing through
a narrow gap

Reflection

Waves bouncing off

a surface

Refraction

Waves changing
direction because of
changing speed

Factors that effect period of oscillation, T

Factor

increase
Gravitational
field strength, g
increase

Period of oscillation, T
Pendulum

Spring

Jigsaw blade

Stiffness, k increase

Mass, m
increase

Solving Problem Involving Waves

Damping and Resonance

In an oscillating system such as oscillation of a
spring, the oscillation does not continue with the
same amplitude indefinitely except when the
system is oscillating in the vacuum.
The amplitude of oscillation will gradually
decrease and become zero when the oscillation
stops. The decrease in the amplitude of an
oscillating system is called damping.

An oscillating system experiences damping when its energy is drained

out as heat energy.
a) External damping : loss of energy to overcome frictional forces or air
resistance
b) Internal damping : loss of energy due to the extension and compression
of the molecules in the system.

To enable an oscillating system to go on

continuously, an external force must be
applied to the system. Such a motion is
called a forced motion.
The frequency of the system which
oscillates freely without the action an
external force is called natural frequency.

Resonance occurs when a system is made to oscillate at

a frequency equivalent to its natural frequency by an
external force. The resonating system oscillates at its
maximum amplitude

When pendulum X oscillates, all the other pendulums are

forced to oscillate. It is found that pendulum D oscillates
with the largest amplitude, that is, pendulum D resonates.
The frequency of a simple pendulum depends on the length
of the pendulum. Note that pendulum A and pendulum C
are at the same length.( same frequency ).

Lecture 23,
Resonance Motion

Consider the following set of pendulum all attached to the

same string

A
D

If I start bob D swinging which of the

others will have the largest swing amplitude ?
(A)

(B)

(C)

Dramatic example of resonance

In 1940, turbulent winds set up a torsional
vibration in the Tacoma Narrow Bridge

Dramatic example of resonance

when it reached the natural frequency

Dramatic example of resonance

it collapsed !

Some effects of resonance in daily life:

Trumpet

Soprano

The loudness of music produced by musical instruments

such as flute and trumpet is the result of resonance in the air.
A soprano sings with a high note, a thin piece of glass may
break.
A bridge can collapse when the amplitude of its vibration
increases as a result of resonance