Waves

Wave
Waves are repeated to-and-fro vibrations that transfer energy from one point to another, or away
from an energy source.

Longitudinal wave Transverse wave

Amplitude
The maximum displacement of a wave from the rest position
It is a vector quantity

Wavelength
The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs
Symbol- λ (Lamda)

The distance between two consecutive compressions and rarefactions.

Only applicabel to Longitudinal wave.

¤ Compressions are the regions in which molicules are closer to each other and this occus due to
higher pressure.
¤ Rarefractions sre the regions in which molicules are further apart from each other. This occur due
to lower pressure.
Amplitude

Time Period
Time taken to produce one complete wave
Unit Second (s)

Frequency
The number of complete waves produced per second.
Unit Hertz (Hz)

Formula

f Frequency
T Time Period

Frequency of a wave is 100Hz, if amplitude is 5mm. Calculate its time Period. Scetch the wave,
draw 3 waves.
F=100Hz

T= 1/f
T= 1/100
T= 0.01s
 Wave speed
Distance travelled by a wave in 1 second.
Formulla V=f λ

Time period of a wave is 0.02s. Its wavelength is 150cm.

Calculate a) Frequency c) Speed of wave b) Speed of wave in cm/s

a) F=1/T =1/0.02 = 50Hz

b) V=f λ =50 x 150 = 7500cm/s
c) V=f λ =50 x 150/100 = 75m/s

Transverse Waves Longitudinal Wave

Consists of Crests and troughs Consists of compressions and reflection
The vibrations of the particles in the medium is The vibration of the particles in the medium is
perpendicular to the direction in which the wave parallel to the direction in which the wave
travels travels.
Ex- Water waves, rope waves, light waves, x-rays Ex- Sound waves

Reflection of waves
Waves are reflected when an obstacle is placed in their paths
All reflected waves obey the laws of reflection.
The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
The incident wave, the reflected wave and the normal all lie on the same plane.
1.

A= Wavelength
B= Amplitude

2. The speed of a wave is 5m/s. The distance between the wave crests is 10m.
Calculate a) Frequency b) Time Period.
 3. Define Frequency. Write the unit of frequency
Number of waves produced per second.
Unit Hertz (Hz)

10Hz 10 waves are being produced in 1second.

4GHz 4 x 109 Hz waves are being produced in 1 second

4. Define Time Period. Write the Unit.

Time taken to produce one complete wave.
Unit- second(s)

5.

Wavefront
Any line or surface over which all the vibrating particles are in the same phase
Distance between two consecutive wavefront is (lamda)

Frequency= 4Hz.
Calculate a)Wavelength b)Time Period c)Speed of Wave

a) b) c)
Reflection of waves
When a wave hits a barrier, it bounces back following the law of reflection
During reflection, Frequency, wavelength and speed of the wave does not change, remains the
same.
Only the direction of the wave changes

The reflected wave have the same wavelength frequency

and speed as the incident wave.

Only the direction of the wave changes, so the velocity of

the wave changes. So, the velocity of the wave changes

Reflection of Wave
When a water wave passes from a deep region to a shallow region, it wavelength decreases and
as a result the speed decreases. But the frequency of the wave remains same.
The speed of a wave changes when the wave moves from a dense medium to a less dense
medium or from deep water to shallow water

During refraction, the direction of wave changes.

On entering the shallow region, the wave bends towards the normal.
On entering deep region, the wave bends away from the normal.

Sound Wave
Sound waves are produced by vibrating source placed in a medium (solid, liquid, gas)
Sound waves are longitudinal waves, consisting of compressions and rarefactions
Sound waves cannot travel through empty space
Sound waves require a medium to travel

Compressions
are regions where air pressure is slighty higher than the sorrounding air pressure.
Rarefactions
are regions where air pressure is slighty lower than the sorrounding air pressure.

Change in Explanation
Temperature Sound travels faster when the temperature rises
Humidity Sound travels faster when humidity increases
Pressure No effect on the speed or sound
 Experiment to measure the speed of sound
Two people are required
One carrying a pistol Person A
Another carrying a stopwatch Person B
This two people should stand at two ends of an open field
Distance between then should be measured with a measuring tape Distance (d)
Person A fires the pistol
Person B starts the stopwatch by seeing the flash of the pistol and stops the stopwatch
when he hears the sound
Time recorded Time (t)
Speed of time can be calculated by using the formula V=d/t
For better result, the experiment should be repeated by interchanging their positions

Echo
An echo is a reflected wave
When a sound wave hits a barrier, such as mountains, trees, walls, then an identical sound is
heard. This sound is known a s echo
V= 2d/t

A fisherman is sending a short pulse of ultrasound. Speed of ultrasound is 1500m/s

Time travels between the incident pulse and reflected pulse is 0.1s
Calculate the depth (d) of the fishes from the boat

2d = 150
d = 75m

Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic spectrum is a group of special waves which have some common properties.

Radio waves
Microwaves
Wavelength Infrared Frequency
Increases Ultraviolet increases
X-ray
Gamma ray

Radio waves have the longest wavelength

Gamma ray have the shortest wavelength

Properties of Electromagnetic Waves

They are all transverse waves.
They travel at a speed of 3x108 m/s in the vacuum
They can all pass through vacuum
They obey the laws of reflection and refraction.
They obey the equation v =fλ
They transfer energy from one place to another
 When an electromagnetic wave travel from one medium to another, aped and wavelength
changes, frequency remains the same.
They carry no electric charge.

Uses of electromagnetic waves

1. Radio waves Radio, Tv

2. Microwave Mobile phone network, satellite tellivision, microwave oven.
3. Infrared Tv remote, Electric grill, burglar alarm
4. Visible light Optical fiber
5. Ultraviolet Sterilization of medical equipment
6. X-ray To detect cracks in bones
7. Gamma ray To detect cracks in metals

Light

Light is a form of energy that enables us to see.

Light travels at a speed of 3x108 m/s
Light travels in a straight line
A bundle of light rays form a beam of light

Luminous objects
Are objects that gives out their own light
Example: Sun, Light bulb, TV
Objects that do not give their own light are called non-luminous objects

Reflection

When a ray of light falls on a shiny surface, it bounces back. This effect of light is known as
reflection.

Laws of reflection
The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal, all lie on the same plane.
Angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
Normal
It is an imaginary line that is drawn at 900 on the shiny surface

Angle of Incidence (i)

Angle between the incident ray and the normal

Angle of reflection (r)

Angle between the reflected ray and the normal

Regular Reflected Irregular Reflection

Refers to the reflection of rays coming from a Occurs from reflection of rays coming from
smooth plane surface rough surfaces

Regular Reflection Reflected rays come out from different direction

Incident rays Reflected rays

Smooth plane

surface

Real Image Virtual Image

Real image is the type of image that can be Virtual image is a type of image that cannot be
focused on a screen focused on screen
Example: Image formed by camera, projector and Example: Image formed on a plane mirror,
human eye magnifying glass and by a concave lens.

An image is formed when an object is placed in front of a mirror

Properties of image formed in a plane mirror

Object distance is equal to image distance from the mirror
The image is laterally inverted
Image is same size as the object
 Virtual
Upright

Reflection of light

When a light ray passes from less dense medium to more dense medium, it bends towards the normal.
This is because, its wavelength decreases so speed decreases. But frequency remains same.
Therefore it bends towards the normal.

When a light ray passes from more dense medium to less dense medium, it bends away from the
normal. Its wavelength increaases, so speed increases but frequency doesn’t change. Therefore it
bends away from the narmal

Reaction
Refers to the bending of light when it passes from an optically less dense medium to an optically
denser medium ( more dense medium) or vice verca.

Laws of refraction
The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal all lie on the same plane
The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is always a
constant.
3 Situation of Refraction
1. From less dense to more dense medium

2. From more dense medium to less dense medium

3. Light rays enter another medium perpendicularly

Real depth and Apparent depth

Critical Angle

¤ When a ray of light passes from more dense medium to less dense medium at a certain angle of
incidence for which te angle of refraction in the less dense medium becomes 900
Critical angle: The angle of incidence in the optically denser medium for which the angle of
refracction in the less dense medium is 900
Total Internal Reflection

If a ray of light passes from more dense medium to less dense medium at an agle of incidence
which is greater than the critical angle, all the light is reflected back into the denser medium. This is
known as the Total internal Reflection.

¤ Light ray must travel from more dense medium to less sense medium.
¤ Angle of incidence must be greater than critical angle.
Q) What happen when light passes from a more dense medium to less dense medium?

When light passes drom a more dense medium to less dense medium, it bends away from the
normal

Q) What happens when the angle of incidence is more than the critical angle?
When the angle of incidence is greater than the critical ngle, all the light undergoes reflection.
¤ Whenever there is a reflection, there is always a small portion of refraction. This refraction is
known as partial refraction
¤ Whenever there is a refraction, there is always a small portion of reflection. This reflection is
known as partial reflection.
 ¤ But this is total internal reflection, there is no refraction at al. That is why light in Total Internal
Reflection is brighter than any other

Dipresion

When a white light passes through a glass prism, the prism separates the white light into seven
different colours. This is, because, different colours have different wavelength, so they slow
down by different amount. This effect of light is known as dipresi