CHAPTER 1:

WAVES
LEARNING AREA:
• 1.1 Understanding Waves
 Learning Outcomes
A student is able to :
• Compare transverse and longitudinal waves and give examples of
each.
• Define – amplitude, period, frequency, wavelength, wave speed.
• https://www.gcse.com/waves.htm
 Types of Wave
• Wave transferring energy from one location to another which is
produced by an oscillating or vibration motion.

• There are two types of wave motion: transverse and longitudinal.

 Transverse Waves
• Transverse waves is the vibration of the particle in the medium is
perpendicular to the direction of the propagation of the wave.

• Example:
 Longitudinal Waves
• Longitudinal waves is the vibration of the particle in the medium is
parallel to the direction of the propagation of the wave.

• Example:
 Transverse Wavelength
• Transverse wavelength is the distance between two successive crest
or trough.
• SI unit: meter / Symbol: λ
• Draw:
 Longitudinal Wavelength
• Longitudinal wavelength is the distance between two successive
compression or rarefaction.
• SI unit: meter / Symbol: λ
• Draw:
 Amplitude
• Amplitude is the maximum displacement from its equilibrium
position.
• Amplitude relates to loudness in sound and brightness in light.
• SI unit: meter / Symbol: a
• Draw:
 Period
• Period is the time taken for an oscillation to complete one cycle.
• SI unit: second / Symbol: s
 Frequency
• Frequency is the number of waves produced in one second (how
many times something happens per second).
• SI unit: Hertz / Symbol: f
 THE SIMPLE WAVE SIMULATOR
• https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Waves-and-
Sound/Simple-Wave-Simulator/Simple-Wave-Simulator-Interactive
The Relationship Between Speed, Frequency &
Wavelength
• The frequency of a set of waves is set at the source itself. For
instance, if Billy pokes a pond with a stick twice each second, the
frequency will be 2 Hz.

• As the waves travel over the pond's surface, this frequency will not
change. What may change is the distance between waves
the wavelength - and their speed.
The Relationship Between Speed, Frequency &
Wavelength
• The speed of a wave is the measurement of how fast a crest is moving
from a fixed point.
• SI unit is ms-1.

• The speed of a wave can be found by using this formula:

 EXERCISES
1. Bill counts 5 waves on a pond in 10 s. The distance between them is
80 cm. What is their speed?
 EXERCISES
2. Lizi reads the back label of her microwave oven. It says frequency =
2,450 MHz. The speed of microwaves is 3.00×108 m/s.
What wavelength are they?
 EXERCISES
3. Paul plays a note of wavelength 25 cm on his synthesiser.
He knows the speed of sound is 340 m/s in air.
What is its frequency?
 EXERCISES
4. A two metre long rope is placed on the floor. At one end the rope is
swung once to the left. A pulse is produced.

(a) If the pulse takes 2 s to travel from one end to the other end, what
is the speed of the pulse?
 EXERCISES
(b) The end of the rope is swung at a frequency of 5 Hz, to produce
continuous transverse waves.
(i) How many waves are produced in 1 s?

(ii) What is the period of the wave?