College of Education

SCI 117 – WAVES AND OPTICS

JELYN A. ALANIA DR. MARY GRACE B. GALAGATE

Reporter Course Facilitator

TYPES OF WAVES

TABLE OF CONTENT

❖ What are Waves?

❖ Types of Waves in Physics
❖ Mechanical Wave
❖ Electromagnetic Wave
❖ Difference Between Mechanical Wave and Non-Mechanical Wave
❖ Matter Wave

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:

❖ define a wave and classify the different types of waves in physics by providing
examples for each.
❖ explain the differences between mechanical and electromagnetic waves, including the
role of a medium in their propagation

ACTIVITY

Wave Dance and Acting Challenge!

Direction: Explore different types of waves (mechanical, electromagnetic, and matter waves)
by using movement and imagination. Each group will represent a different type of wave, and
you'll use your bodies to demonstrate how each wave moves. You can also Act out different
types of waves using creative performances and drama. Each group will perform their wave
movement for 1 MINUTE. After each performance, the rest of the class will guess which type
of wave is being demonstrated based on the movements.

Longitudinal Wave (Mechanical)

Transverse Wave (Mechanical)

Surface Wave (Mechanical)

Electromagnetic Wave (Non-mechanical)

Matter Wave (Quantum)

ANALYSIS

After all the performances, answer the following questions.

1. What did you feel while acting out the wave? How did the movement reflect the type
of wave?

2. What similarities and differences did you notice between the different wave types?

3. How do these waves behave in real-life situations (e.g., sound, light, or water)? Can
you think of any real-world applications for these waves?

Possible Answers:

1. I felt energized and engaged. Transverse waves felt like bouncing up and down,
longitudinal waves felt like compressing and stretching, and surface waves involved a
circular motion.

2. All waves involve motion, but transverse waves move perpendicular to the wave,
longitudinal waves move parallel, and surface waves combine both motions.

3. Transverse waves are seen in light and water. Longitudinal waves are seen in sound.
Surface waves are observed in oceans. Applications include sound for communication,
light for vision and technology, and water waves for energy and erosion.

ABSTRACTION

Types of Waves

Introduction

Types of Waves

Wave is associated with the transfer of energy. There are many types of waves studied
in Physics. Some waves need a material medium to propagate, and some do not need a medium
for propagation. In this session, let us learn in detail about waves and the types of waves

What are Waves?

 A wave transmits information or energy from one point to another in the form of
signals, but no material object makes this journey. The frequency of a wave is obtained by
including a factor of time in the mix. We are completely dependent on waves for all of our
wireless communications.

For example, if you make a call to your friend in another city with your mobile phone,
the entire communication is happening via audio, but the entire process of transmission of a
signal from the talker to the receiver occurs as a waveform. The phone converts your voice into
an electrical signal which then propagates either through copper wires or through antennae in
wireless communication.

A wave is a flow or transfer of energy in the form of oscillation through a medium –

space or mass. Sea waves or tides, a sound we hear, a photon of light travelling, and even the
movement of small plants blown by the wind are all examples of different waves. A simple
wave illustration is as follows.

Types of Waves in Physics

Different types of waves have different sets of characteristics. Based on the orientation of
particle motion and direction of energy, there are three categories:

• Mechanical waves

• Electromagnetic waves

• Matter waves

Mechanical Wave

• A mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter and is responsible for the
transfer of energy through a medium.
 • The distance of the wave’s propagation is limited by the medium of transmission. In
this case, the oscillating material moves about a fixed point, and there is very little
translational motion. One intriguing property of mechanical wave is the way they are
measured, which is given by displacement divided by the wavelength. When this
dimensionless factor is 1, it generates harmonic effects; for example, waves break on
the beach when this factor exceeds 1, resulting in turbulence.

There are two types of mechanical waves:

• Longitudinal waves – In this type of wave, the movement of the particles is parallel to
the motion of the energy, i.e. the displacement of the medium is in the same direction
in which the wave is moving. Example – Sound Waves, Pressure Waves.

• Transverse waves – When the movement of the particles is at right angles or

perpendicular to the motion of the energy, then this type of wave is known as a
transverse wave. Light is an example of a transverse wave.

Water waves are an example of a combination of both longitudinal and transverse motions.

• Surface waves – In this type, the particles travel in a circular motion. These waves
usually occur at interfaces. Waves in the ocean and ripples in a cup of water are
examples of such waves.

Learn more about Transverse and longitudinal wave here:

Animations for Physics and Astronomy. (2012, February 7). Longitudinal and transverse waves
[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cDAYFTXq3E

Electromagnetic Wave
 • Electromagnetic waves are created by a fusion of electric and magnetic fields. The light
you see, the colours around you are visible because of electromagnetic waves.

• One interesting property here is that unlike mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves
do not need a medium to travel. All electromagnetic waves travel through a vacuum at
the same speed, 299,792,458 ms-1.

Following are the different types of electromagnetic waves:

❖ Radio Waves: These have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. They
are used for communication, broadcasting, and radar systems.
Example: AM and FM radio signals, television signals.

❖ Microwaves: These waves have shorter wavelengths than radio waves. They are used in
cooking (microwave ovens) and communication (satellite and Wi-Fi).
Example: Microwave ovens, GPS, and radar systems.

❖ Infrared (IR): These waves have wavelengths shorter than microwaves and are typically
associated with heat. Infrared is emitted by warm objects.
Example: Heat lamps, remote controls, thermal imaging.

❖ Visible Light: This is the narrow range of wavelengths that the human eye can detect. It is
the light we see, ranging from red to violet.
Example: Sunlight, light bulbs.

❖ Ultraviolet (UV): These waves have shorter wavelengths than visible light and can be
harmful to skin and eyes. UV light is responsible for sunburn.
Example: Sunlight, black lights, sterilization equipment.

❖ X-rays: These waves have even shorter wavelengths and are used for medical imaging and
security scanning.
Example: Medical X-ray imaging, airport security scanners.
❖ Gamma Rays: These waves have the shortest wavelengths and highest frequencies. They
are typically produced by radioactive materials and certain astronomical events.
Example: Gamma radiation from radioactive decay, cancer treatment (radiotherapy).

Difference Between Mechanical Wave and Non-Mechanical Wave (Electromagnetic

Waves)

Mechanical Waves vs Non-Mechanical Waves (Electromagnetic Waves)

Mechanical Wave Non-Mechanical Wave (Electromagnetic

Waves)

Mechanical waves are waves that need a Non-mechanical waves are waves that do not
medium for propagation. need any medium for propagation.

Sound waves, water waves and seismic The electromagnetic wave is the only non-
waves are some examples of mechanical mechanical wave.
waves.

Mechanical waves cannot travel through Non-mechanical waves can travel through
vacuum vacuum

Matter Wave

• A matter wave refers to the concept introduced by Louis de Broglie in 1924, suggesting
that all particles, including matter, exhibit both particle-like and wave-like properties. This
idea was a groundbreaking contribution to the field of quantum mechanics and led to the
development of wave-particle duality.

• This concept is a little complicated to understand. The dual nature of matter; its ability to
exist both as a particle and a wave was first brought to light by the founders of the field of
Quantum Physics.

• For example, a beam of electrons can be diffracted just like any other beam of
electromagnetic radiation or water wave. This property of matter was brought forward by
Louis de Broglie’s Hypothesis.
• Wave-particle duality is the fundamental principle in quantum mechanics that suggests that
elementary particles (like electrons, protons, etc.) can exhibit characteristics of both
particles and waves, depending on how they are observed.

• Traditionally, matter was thought to consist only of particles, and light was thought to
consist only of waves. However, de Broglie proposed that particles such as electrons could
also behave like waves, leading to the concept of matter waves.

• According to de Broglie's hypothesis, the wavelength of a particle (like an electron) can be

calculated using the formula

• Matter Waves in Everyday Life: Matter waves are most noticeable with particles of very
small mass, like electrons. For macroscopic objects (such as a baseball), the wavelength is
so small that it is effectively undetectable.

• The de Broglie wavelength is significant only for very small particles because, for large
objects, the momentum (and thus the wavelength) is very large, making the wave-like
behavior imperceptible.

• For electrons, the de Broglie wavelength can be measured experimentally because electrons
have relatively small masses.

• For large objects (like a human), the associated wavelength is extremely tiny, far too small
to observe any wave-like behavior.

• Matter waves are the basis for technologies like electron microscopes, where the electron's
wave-like behavior allows for much higher resolution images than light microscopes.

Learn more about Matter Waves here:

SciCurious. (2023, May 25). Wave-Particle duality in Quantum Mechanics : De Broglie Wavelength
[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg39h7BdAWE

APPLICATION:

1. When an electromagnetic wave passes from air into water, what happens to its wavelength
and frequency?

A) The frequency decreases and the wavelength increases.

B) The frequency remains constant, and the wavelength decreases.
C) Both frequency and wavelength decrease.
D) The frequency increases and the wavelength remains constant.
2. In the context of electromagnetic radiation, which of the following is most accurate about
the energy of a wave?

A) The energy of an electromagnetic wave increases as its wavelength increases.

B) The energy of an electromagnetic wave increases as its frequency decreases.
C) The energy of an electromagnetic wave is proportional to its frequency and inversely
proportional to its wavelength.
D) The energy of an electromagnetic wave is independent of its frequency and wavelength.

3. The de Broglie wavelength of a particle is given by the formula λ = h / mv, where λ is the
wavelength, h is Planck’s constant, m is the mass, and v is the velocity. If the velocity of a
proton is increased, which of the following will occur?

A) The de Broglie wavelength of the proton will increase.

B) The de Broglie wavelength of the proton will decrease.
C) The de Broglie wavelength of the proton will remain unchanged.
D) The de Broglie wavelength of the proton will oscillate.

4. Which of the following scenarios would result in the maximum possible interference of
two waves (constructive interference)?

A) When two waves are traveling in opposite directions with the same amplitude, frequency,
and phase.
B) When two waves are traveling in opposite directions with different amplitudes but the
same frequency.
C) When two waves are traveling in the same direction with the same amplitude, frequency,
and phase.
D) When two waves are traveling in the same direction with different frequencies.

5. In a standing wave on a string, which of the following statements is true?

A) The nodes of a standing wave represent points where the amplitude is at its maximum.
B) The antinodes represent points where the amplitude is zero, and the wave does not
propagate.
C) The energy in a standing wave is distributed evenly between the nodes and antinodes.
D) The standing wave can only form if the string is at resonance, with specific frequencies of
oscillation.

6. If two light waves of different frequencies are incident on the same material, how does the
speed of light change for each of them as they enter the material?
A) Both waves travel at the same speed regardless of frequency.
B) The higher-frequency wave travels faster than the lower-frequency wave.
C) The lower-frequency wave travels faster than the higher-frequency wave.
D) The speed of both waves decreases in proportion to their frequency.

7. Consider a sound wave traveling through air at 20°C. If the temperature increases to 40°C,
how does the speed of sound in air change?

A) The speed of sound decreases.

B) The speed of sound increases.
C) The speed of sound remains the same because sound waves are mechanical.
D) The speed of sound first increases, then decreases once it reaches a critical temperature.

8. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle implies that for a particle like an electron, the more
accurately we know its position, the less accurately we can know its momentum. What would
be the expected effect on the electron’s matter wave if its position is precisely measured?

A) The matter wave becomes infinitely spread out.

B) The matter wave’s wavelength increases.
C) The matter wave becomes localized with a more definite wavelength.
D) The matter wave collapses into a particle-like state.

9. In an ideal case of reflection of a longitudinal sound wave from a rigid boundary, which of
the following occurs?

A) The amplitude of the reflected wave increases, and the phase remains the same.
B) The amplitude of the reflected wave remains unchanged, but the phase is reversed.
C) The amplitude of the reflected wave decreases, and the phase is reversed.
D) The amplitude of the reflected wave remains unchanged, and the phase is not reversed.

10. If two electromagnetic waves with the same frequency but different polarizations are
incident on a polarizing filter, which of the following is true about the transmitted light intensity
through the filter?

A) The intensity of transmitted light is independent of the angle of polarization.

B) The intensity of transmitted light is maximized when the polarization directions are
perpendicular.
C) The intensity of transmitted light will be zero when the polarization directions are aligned.
D) The intensity of transmitted light depends on the relative polarization angle between the
incident wave and the polarizing filter.
Answer Key:

1. B

2. C

3. B

4. A

5. D

6. A

7. B

8. A

9. B

10. D

References:

Admin. (2022, May 17). Types of Waves - Mechanical, Electromagnetic, Matter Waves & Their
Types. BYJUS. https://byjus.com/physics/types-of-waves/

Urone, P. P., & Hinrichs, R. (2020, March 26). 13.1 Types of Waves - Physics | OpenStax.
https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/13-1-types-of-waves