WAVE PHENOMENON

1. Running head: WAVES 1
WAVE PHENOMENON
Caribbean Maritime Institute
Industrial Engineer
Mechanical Engineer Science
Lecturer: Mr M. Johnson
Group Member
Romarne Buddington ID#20151374
Shemar Budram ID#20151368
Dalene Coore ID#20151581
Derron Crossfield ID#20151536
Daniel Davis ID#20151049

2. WAVES 2
Questions
a. Define wave, and state the properties of waves.
b. State and explain the different types of waves.
c. Explain the principle of superposition of waves.
d. With the aid of diagrams explain the difference between
constructive and destructive interference.
e. Explain the wave equation V= fλ

3. WAVES 3
a. Define wave, and state the properties of waves.
A wave can be described as the transfer of energy through medium or space. There are
several characteristic which defines what a wave should be these characteristics are considered as
the properties of all waves.
The behavior of waves.
 Transferring of energy – All wave most transfer energy from one point to the next
 Reflection – A change opposite in direction of waves when they bounce off a barrier.
 Refract - A change in direction of waves as the wave passes through different medium.
 Diffraction – The spreading out or bending of waves as that passes through an opening
or around a barrier in their path.
 Interfere - Occurs when two waves meet while traveling along the same medium.
Properties of Waves
 Amplitude: this is considered as the strength of the vibration of a wave.
 Wavelength: the distance between adjacent crests or trough, measured in meters. The
wavelength can also be considered as the total displacement made in an oscillation.
 Period: the time it takes for one complete an oscillation, measured in seconds.
 Frequency: the number of oscillations completed in a single second, measured in inverse
seconds (1/s), or Hertz (Hz).
 Velocity: Velocity of a wave, V, is the rate at which the wave moves through a particular
medium. The velocity of the wave moving in a particular medium is constant.
 Crest- This is the highest point reached by a wave.
 Trough – The lowest point a wave achieves.

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DIAGRAM SHOWING WAVE PROPERTIES

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b. State and explain the different types of waves.
There several types of wave these are Mechanical waves, Electromagnetic wave and
Matter waves. These wave can be further broken down into different forms.
Mechanical Waves
A mechanical wave can be described as a disturbance which transfer energy through a
medium by temporarily displacing the particle of the medium from their rest position, “the
disturbance being handed over from one particle to the next”
Types of Mechanical Waves
1. Transverse Wave – When medium has particles that vibrates (transfer energy) in a
direction perpendicular (at right angle) to the direction of the produced wave. This Kind of
wave produced is called Transverse Waves.
Ex. Water waves can be considered a transverse wave.
2. Longitudinal Wave - When medium has particles that vibrates (transfer energy) in a
direction parallel to the direction of the produced, wave we call this wave Longitudinal
Waves.
Ex. Sound wave would be considers as longitudinal.

6. WAVES 6
Electromagnetic Waves
An electromagnetic wave is a wave that is capable of transmitting its energy through empty
space (a vacuum). Electromagnetic wave’s transfer’s energy by vibrating charged particles.
Types E.M waves
1. Radio Waves
2. Microwaves
3. Infrared
4. Visible Light
5. UV rays
6. X-rays
7. Gamma Rays
Ex. Electromagnetic waves can be seen in the case of light travelling to Earth from the
sun through the vacuum of outer space.
 All light waves are examples of electromagnetic waves.
Matter Waves
Also known as De Broglie waves, this states that all matter can exhibit wave-like
behaviour.
Ex. A beam of electrons can be diffracted just like a beam of light or a water wave.

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c. Explain the principle of superposition of waves.
One feature of waves is that they superpose. The principle of superposition states that if
two or more waves of the same type passes through the same medium at the same time the
displacement of any point is the sum of the individual displacement. (Pascal, 2004)

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d. Difference between constructive and destructive interference waves
What is a constructive interference waves?
Constructive Interference is the interference of two or more wave of equal frequency
amplitude and mutual phases results in a mutual reinforcement upon producing a single
amplitude, which is equal to the sum of wavelengths of each individual wave.
(physicsclassroom.com, n.d.)
1.
2.
3.
Fig 2: DIAGRAM SHOWING CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
Fig 2 illustrates a constructive interference, where wave 1 and 2 is being pass through
the same medium at the same time having a crest to crest and a trough to trough orientation given
that they have the same frequency and amplitude. Hence this will cause a third wave to be
produce as a result of wave 1 and 2 combining together. This third wave has an amplitude which
is equal the sum of wave length of wave 1 and 2. (physicsclassroom.com, n.d.)

9. WAVES 9
What is a destructive interference wave?
This is the interference of two or more wave with equal frequency but opposite phases
resulting into the cancellation of waves where in the negative displacement of one wave
coincides with the positive displacement of the other.
Fig 3: DIAGRAM SHOWING DISTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
Fig 3 displays a destructive interference between two waves. As the name destructive
suggests something is destroyed. When analyzing the diagram, it illustrates two waves A and B
which is assumed to be in the same medium having equal frequency but in opposite phases (out
of phase with each other). These two opposite waves have a crest to trough and a trough to crest
orientation. When these waves combine with each other it forms a third wave A-B which is a
straight line. This happens as a result of the waves cancelling out each other.

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e) Explain the wave equation V= fλ
The above equation denotes the following
V- Represent the velocity of the wave
λ - Representing the wavelength or this Distance travelled between
f – Representing the frequency or inverse seconds (1/s = Hz)
Velocity of a wave, V, is how fast the wave moves through a particular medium. We know
velocity of a moving objected to be V= s/t Where:
V = represent velocity
s= this distance/ displacement travelled
1/t = the amount time used per covering x distance
If the wave moves a distance of one wavelength, the time taken for the wave to move the
distance is the period of the wave. Hence 𝑽 = 𝝀
𝑻 where:
λ= distance travel by wave (wavelength)
T= time taken to travel same distance (period)
The frequency of a wave and period are related by 𝑻 = 𝟏
𝒇 therefore,
𝑽 =
𝝀
𝟏
𝒇
𝑽 = 𝝀×
𝒇
𝟏
∴ 𝑽 = 𝒇𝝀

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If we were to straighten out a wave, as shown in fig 4 we would see where the aforementioned
equation is true.
Fig 4: DIAGRAM SHOWING THE LINEAR COMPONENT OF A WAVE

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References
Duncan, T., & Onace, D. (1985). physics for the Caribbean .
Pascal, P. (2004). Excel Preliminary Physics. Higher School Certificate Examination (N.S.W.).
physicsclassroom.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.physicsclassroom.com:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-3/Interference-of-Waves