This document discusses different types of waves including transverse waves, longitudinal waves, and properties of waves such as amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed. It defines a wave as a spread of disturbance and notes that waves can transfer energy. It provides examples of transverse waves like water waves and electromagnetic waves, and examples of longitudinal waves like sound waves. It also defines key wave terms and properties and includes the wave equation relating wavelength, frequency, and speed.

1. GENERAL WAVE PROPERTIES SECONDARY 3 PHYSICS

2. Waves Around Us Water waves Sound waves Earthquake (seismic waves) Note: Waves carry energy (eg. Electromagnetic waves)

3. What is a wave? A wave may be thought of as a spread of disturbance. Eg: the surface of a pond is actually calm until we drop a pebble. Then the surface of the water starts to move as it is disturbed. That disturbance spreads outwards. http:// webphysics.davidson.edu/Applets/Ripple/Ripple.html

4. Types Of Waves There are two types of waves: Transverse waves Longitudinal waves

5. Transverse Waves The direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. Example of transverse waves: water waves, electromagnetic waves http://www. phy . ntnu . edu . tw /java/wave/wave.html

6. Longitudinal Waves The direction of vibration is parallel to the direction of wave travel. Example of longitudinal wave: sound http://www.explorescience.com/activities/Activity_page.cfm?ActivityID =50

7. Parts of a Wave amplitude trough Peak / crest One wavelength

8. Distance travelled by the wave in 1 second. Unit: ms -1 Wave speed Time taken to produce 1 complete wave Period Number of complete waves produced in 1 second Frequency Shortest distance between two points in phase Wavelength Two points that are moving in the same direction at the same speed and having the same displacement from rest Phase Maximum displacement from rest position Amplitude The high points / low points in a wave Crests / trough Meaning Terms

9. Metres per second (m/s) Wave speed Seconds (s) Period Hertz (Hz) Frequency Metres (m) Wavelength M etres (m) Amplitude Units Terms

10. Wave Equation v = f  Speed of wave [ms -1 ] Frequency [Hz] Wavelength [m]

11. Example: The speed of sound is 330 ms -1 . If the wavelength of the sound was 4m, what was the frequency of the sound? Solution: v = f  330 = f (4) f = 330/4 = 82.5 Hz

12. Relationship between T and f Period [s] Frequency [Hz]

13. What is “in phase” It is when 2 points on a wave are at the same displacement, moving at the same speed in the same direction. back