Waves can be transverse or longitudinal. Transverse waves have vibrations perpendicular to the direction of travel, like water waves. Longitudinal waves have vibrations parallel to travel, like sound waves. The characteristics of all waves include amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period, and speed. Wavelength is the distance between two peaks, frequency is the number of waves passing a point per second, and speed equals wavelength times frequency.

1. Waves

3. What are waves? A wave is a phenomenon in which energy is transferred through vibration.

4. Types of Waves Transverse Waves Longitudinal Waves

5. Transverse Waves are waves which travel in a direction perpendicular to the direction of vibrations. Direction of vibrations Direction of wave

6. Generating Transverse Waves

7. Transverse Waves examples include water waves rope waves light wave electromagnetic waves

8. Longitudinal Waves are waves which travel in a direction parallel to the direction of vibrations. examples include sound waves Direction of vibration Direction of wave

9. Generating of Longitudinal Waves [slinky spring]

10. Characteristics of A Wave Crests and Troughs Amplitude Wavelength Frequency Period Speed

11. Crests and Trough Crests are high point of a wave Troughs are low point of a wave trough displacement distance crest crest

12. Amplitude (A) is the height of a crest or depth of a trough measured from the normal undisturbed positions. displacement distance crest crest trough Amplitude Amplitude

13. SI Unit For Amplitude is measured in metres (m) displacement distance crest crest trough Amplitude Amplitud e

14. Wavelength (  ) is the distance between two successive crests or troughs displacement distance Amplitude Amplitude crest crest trough trough Wavelength Wavelength

15. SI Unit For Wavelength is measured in metres (m) displacement distance Amplitude Amplitud e cres t crest trough trough Wavelength

16. Frequency (f) is the number of vibrations in one second.

17. SI Unit For Frequency is the Hertz (Hz) 1 Hz is 1 vibration in 1 second. 50 Hz is 50 vibrations in 1 second.

18. Test Yourselves Explain the meaning of 28 Hz, 100 Hz , 135 Hz, 1570 Hz .

19. Period (T) is the time taken for one complete vibration. (or oscillation or cycle)

20. SI Unit For Period is measured in second (s)

21. Relationship between Period (T) and Frequency (f) f = 100 Hz  T = 1/100 s f = 40 Hz  T = 1/40 s f = 23 Hz  T = 1/23 s f = 8 Hz  T = 1/8 s f = f Hz  T = 1/f s

22. Relationship Between f and T

23. Speed Of a Wave is the distance moved in one second .

24. SI Unit For Speed is measured in metre per second (ms -1 or m/s)

25. Wave Equation Speed of a wave = wavelength  period = wavelength x frequency where v = speed, f = frequency and  = wavelength V =  f

26. Describing Waves Displacement-Time Graph for one particle on the wave time displacement

27. GCE O-Level Past Examination Paper Science (Physics)

28. Nov 1991 9. The diagram shows the outline of a water wave. What are the values of the amplitude and the wavelength? amplitude / cm wavelength / cm A 0.6 10 B 0.6 20 C 0.6 30 D 1.2 20 B

29. GCE O Nov 1994 11. Which wave is longitudinal ? A light B radio C sound D water C

30. D O’ level Physics Nov 1995 11. The speed of 100 Hz wave was measured on four different days. The results are shown in the table. On which day the wave have the longest wavelength ? day speed of wave A 315 ms -1 B 320 ms -1 C 335 ms -1 D 340 ms -1

31. GCE O Nov 1996 9. A source vibrates at frequency of 20 Hz and produces waves of wavelength 0.02 m. At which speed do these waves travel out from the source ? A 0.001 ms -1 B 0.021 ms -1 C 0.40 ms -1 D 20 ms -1 C Hint: v =  f

32. Nov 1998 9. A VHF radio station broadcasts at a frequency of 60MHz (6.0 x 10 7 Hz). The speed of radio waves is 3.0 x 10 8 ms -1 . What is the wavelength of the waves broadcast by the station? A 0.2 m B 0.5 m C 2.0 m D 5.0 m D Hint: v =  f

33. Nov 1998 5. The diagram shows a coil spring along which a longitudinal wave is moving. (a) Mark on the diagram a distance equal to the wave length of the wave. [1] (b) Label on the diagram with the letter C where the coils of the spring are compressed. [1] Wave length C (continue in next slide) C C

34. (c) Is the wave on the spring more like a sound wave or a light wave? [1] Nov 1998 (Cont. …) Q 5 Sound wave, because sound wave is a longitudinal wave but light wave is a transverse wave..

35. Nov 1997 5. The diagram below shows a transverse wave travelling a rope. (a) Mark on the diagram which is equal to (i) the wavelength, (ii) the amplitude of the wave. Label your answers. [2] (b) If the wavelength is 0.8m and the frequency is 2 Hz, what is the speed at which the wave moves along the rope ? [2] wavelength amplitude v =  f = 0.8 x 2 = 1.6 ms -1

36. Nov 1996 6(a) Explain the difference between a transverse and a longitudinal wave. [2] (b) State one example of each type of wave. Transverse Longitudinal [2] Light Sound Transverse wave is a wave that its direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction of propagation. It can travel through vacuum. Longitudinal wave is a wave that its direction of vibration is parallel to the direction of propagation. It needs medium to travel.

37. 9.(a) Explain the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves, referring in your answer to the direction in which the waves travel. [2] GCE ‘O’ LEVEL Nov 1995 Transverse waves are waves that their direction of vibration is perpendicular to their direction of propagation. Longitudinal waves are waves that their direction of vibration is parallel to their direction of propagation. (continue on next slide)

38. 9.(b) The speed of sound in water is 1500m/s. What is a wave length of a sound wave of frequency 250Hz travelling through water ? [2] Since v =  f therefore 1500 =  250  = 1500 / 250 = 6.0 m (Cont. …) Q. 9 Nov 1995

39. Nov 1993 6. The diagram shows the air pressure at different distances from a loudspeaker. (continue on next slide) (a) Mark carefully on the diagram: [2] (i) a distance which is the wavelength of the sound wave; (ii) the amplitude of the sound waves. wavelength amplitude

40. 6(b) If the wavelength of a sound wave of frequency 250 Hz is 1.4 m, calculate the speed of the wave. [2] (Cont. …) Q. 6 Nov 1993 since v =  f therefore, = 1.4 x 250 = 350 ms -1

41. 5.(a) With the aid of a diagram, explain what is meant by the frequency and wavelength of a wave. [5] GCE O Nov 1990 (b) What is a longitudinal wave ? [2]  Frequency is the number of vibrations per second. Wavelength is the distance from a point on a wave to its next corresponding point. It usually denote as  .. Longitudinal wave is a wave that its direction of vibration always parallel to the direction of propagation. (continue in next slide)