Wave Phenomena

Regent’s Physics Unit 7

 I. Basic Information
• A. General
– Waves are defined as a transfer of energy
between two points. The wave may be seen or
unseen
– A light wave transfers energy from the sun to
the earth
– A water wave transfers energy across a body of
water
 General definitions of vibrations
and waves
• A vibration is anything that switches back and forth, to and
fro, side to side, in and out, off and on, loud and soft, or up
and down. A vibration is a wiggle in time.
• A wave is a wiggle in both space and time. A wave extends
from one place to another.
• Waves are propagations of vibrations throughout space.
• Waves transfer energy, not matter, from one place to
another
 B. Types of waves
– Mechanical waves need a “medium” to travel
through
– Water waves, sound, or energy traveling
through a spring or rope are examples of
mechanical waves
– Electromagnetic waves carry energy through
the air at a high speed
– Electromagnetic waves can’t be seen
 Electromagnetic Waves
• The following are classified as electromagnetic
waves
– light (the visible spectrum)
– radio waves (fm and am)
– Microwaves
– Infrared radiation
– x-rays
– gamma radiation
– ultraviolet
Each of these waves travels at the same speed-3 x 108 m/s.
They differ in how much energy they have
 C. Classifying Waves
• Waves are classified by the way they displace
the medium or matter they move through
• In a transverse wave, the medium or matter
will move at a right angle to the direction of
the wave

movement of wave

Particle movement
 Wave Type

Transverse

Longitudinal
 Continued
• These diagrams will show what will happen to an object
as a transverse wave moves through
1. object

2.

3.
 Waves
• The object moves up and down as the front passes,
it does not move horizontally, nor does it gain or
lose energy because of the wave
• Water waves are classified as transverse
• In a longitudinal wave, particles will vibrate in the
same direction (parallel) as the wave
• The wave will seem to “pass through” the object
and have no effect on it
• Sound waves and all electromagnetic waves are
longitudinal in nature
 D. Generating Waves
• A wave front is defined as the leading edge
of a newly created wave
• If a stone is dropped in a pond, a wave
pattern is produced

wave front
 Generating Waves
• A circular series of transverse waves was
produced as the stones’ energy is transferred to the
water
• The stone acted as a pulse, creating either a single
wave or a series of waves
• A continuous number of pulses will produce a
series of regularly spaced waves, if the pulses
continue indefinitely a standing wave is produced.
 E. Standing Waves
• Occur when a wave reflects upon itself and interference
causes a pattern
• Nodes remain stationary
• Anti nodes-occur half way between nodes
 Standing Waves
Change the frequency in a standing wave and more
nodes/antinodes appear in the event
 F. Basic Wave Characteristics
All waves have wave length, frequency and period, velocity, and
amplitude
1. Wavelength
• It is defined as the linear distance between the same points on
consecutive waves
• Since it is a distance it is measured in meters or cm
Examples

y
x= distance of 1 wavelength
y= distance of ½ wavelength
Wave Properties
Wavelength
 2. Frequency
• The number of waves, wave fronts, or
pulses which pass a point in a given time
(usually 1 sec)
• Frequency is measured in waves/sec,
termed a Hertz (Hz)
Wave Properties
Frequency
 Examples of Frequency
• What is the frequency of the second hand of
a clock?
Frequency = 1cycle/60 sec Period = 60 sec

• What is the frequency of US Presidential

elections?
Frequency = 1 election/4 yrs Period = 4 yrs
 3. Velocity
• Defined as the speed a wave travels at
• All electromagnetic waves have a speed of 3 x 108
m/s (c)
• The speed of a sound wave in air is 330 m/s
• The speed of all other waves can be calculated
using this formula:

V= f λ v=velocity
f=frequency
λ =wavelength
 Velocity Continued
• When dealing with electromagnetic waves
the formula becomes:

c=f λ c=3 x 108 m/s

f=frequency
λ =wavelength
 Velocity
• From this formula, you should note the
following relationships among the
variables:
– As frequency or wavelength increases, velocity
increases
– As frequency decreases, wavelength increases
 4. Period
• Defined as the time required for one pulse,
wave, or wave front to pass a given point
• The formula is:
T= 1/f T=period
f=frequency
Period is measured in seconds
Wave Properties
Period
In symbolic form

or

T
T 1T
Tff  T T
f
f f ff T
 Sample Problem

You are listening to your favorite Styx CD.

You note that the sound waves have a
pleasant frequency of 12 Hz.
a. What is the velocity of the sound waves?
b. What wavelength are the waves moving
at?
c. What are the waves period?
What determines the speed of a
wave?

(a) the frequency
(b) the wavelength
(c) the amplitude
(d) the period
(e) the medium
(e) the medium of
of transmission
transmission
 A skipper on a boat notices wave crests passing his
anchor chain every 5 seconds. If the wave crests are
15 m apart, what is the speed of the water waves in
m/s?

(a) 5 (d) 10
(b) 15 (e) 3
(c) 75
What dictates the frequency of a
sound wave?

(a) wavelength
(b) medium
(c) source of
(c) source of the
the sound
sound
(d) speed
(e) amplitude
 5. Amplitude

• Defined as the energy content a wave possesses

• It also can be defined as a waves maximum
displacement from its rest position
• The highest point a wave reaches is called crest
• The lowest point a wave reaches is called the
trough
Wave Properties
Amplitude
 Sample Problem

Compare waves A and B below in terms of

the following properties: Amplitude
Wavelength
Frequency
Wave A

Wave B
II. Doppler effect, Interference, Reflection,
and Refraction, and Diffraction
A. The Doppler Effect
• Named after its discoverer, Christian Doppler,
this phenomena deals with relative
frequencies of sounds and other waves when
people and objects are in motion
• More formally, the Doppler effect is defined
as the change in the observed frequency of a
wave when its source and the observer are in
relative motion
 DOPPLER EFFECT
• Refers to the change in frequency when
there is relative motion between an observer
of waves and the source of the waves
• Doppler with Sound
 Examples
• Car horn pitch
• Train bells
• Police radar
• Each example works on the principal that
because of the movement of an object or
person, more waves will reach the person
per second, increasing the perceived
frequency of the wave
 When you move away from a fixed
source of sound, the frequency of
the sound you hear...

(a) is greater than what the source emits

(b) is less
(b) is less than
than what
what the
the source
source emits
emits
(c) is the same as what the source emits
 B. Wave Interference
• Interference can occur if two waves
traveling in the same media meet
• The meeting of the waves is called a
displacement
• What effect the displacement has on the
waves depends on the phase of the waves
• Waves that are in phase have matching
crests and troughs
 Wave Interference

When two wave pass each other their superposition

causes reinforcement or cancellation.
 Waves
• Waves that are out of phase don’t have matching
crests and troughs
A set of waves “in phase”

Although they differ in amplitude, these waves have

similar wavelengths and frequencies
 Waves

A set of waves that is a ½ λ “out of phase”

These waves share similar amplitudes,

wavelengths, and frequencies, but are not
matched “in phase”
 destructive
Waves

• When waves are coming at each other they

will meet and produce interference patterns
• Waves that meet in phase will show
constructive interference
• Waves that meet out of phase will show
destructive interference

constructive
 Constructive interference
• Reinforcement when the crest of one wave
overlaps the crest of another
• Their individual effects adds together,
resulting in a wave increased in amplitude
 Crazy Waves!
– The waves themselves are not changed because
of the displacement.
– Maximum constructive interference would
occur if the waves met in phase.
• 2.) Destructive Interference
• The waves combine to produce a pulse or wave with
a smaller amplitude.
More on waves ( don’t you wish we were

talkin’ about the ocean?) …

• Again, the waves themselves aren’t changed
because of the displacement.
• Maximum destructive interference will
occur if the waves meet out of phase by ½ λ
(a crest and trough meet)
• The waves only cancel out if the crest and
trough have equal amplitude.
 Destructive Interference
• Cancellation when crest of one wave overlaps trough of
another reducing their individual effects
• Water waves show these best
• Out of phase- the crest of one wave arrives at a point at
the same time as a trough of the second wave arrives,
effects cancel each other
• In phase- two waves crests and troughs arrive at a place
at the same time, effects reinforce each other
 Sound Wave Interference

• Interference occurs when two sounds of difference frequency

are heard superposed.
• Constructive interference causes louder sound and destructive
inference cause fainter sound.
• This alternating pattern produces a beat.
A piano tuners listens for beats to disappear.
 Water Wave Interference

• Left side is theoretical drawing of an interference

pattern.
• Right side is the actual interference pattern.
“Mirror Mirror on the wall…” (ok,
not that kind of reflection)

• C. Reflection
– The property of reflection occurs when a wave
hits a barrier that it can’t completely pass
through
– Part or all of the wave will bounce back,
sometimes causing interference to take place.
– Reflection may take place “head on”
or at an angle
 Use your head
• 1.) Head on
Wall
 -=More lines=-

Regular wave
Inverted wave A standing wave is produced
 A few little details…
• When the wave reaches the wall, some of
the amplitude (energy) will be absorbed by
the wall, most however will bounce back.

• Depending on the phase of the returning

wave, constructive or destructive
interference will take place.
 In a different View--
• 2.) At an angle
– When waves reach a barrier at an angle they
will be reflected at the same angle at which
they approached it.
– More precisely, the angle of incidence is equal
to the angle of reflection.
Angle of incidence and angle of
reflection

1 2

Barrier
 More Notes
• 1 = the angle of incidence
• 2 = the angle of reflection
– The dashed line represents a normal, a line
drawn perpendicular to the barrier that allows
you to measure the angles
– A special type of reflection, called inversion,
will take place if a wave hits a very rigid barrier
and undergoes a 180º phase change, this will
produce a standing wave
 Ok guys, New Section
• D. Refraction
– The speed a wave travels at depends on the medium its
traveling in. A wave may speed up or slow down
depending on the type of medium the wave is entering.
– Light waves will slow down as they travel from air to
water.
– When waves change medium their speed and
wavelength will change, but their frequency WILL
NOT.
– You can calculate changes in speed and wavelength
using the following proportion:
 You can calculate changes in speed and
wavelength using the following proportion:

v1 = v2 v1 = original speed
λ1 λ2 λ1 = original wavelength
v2 = new speed
λ 2 = new wavelength
 Put on your thinking caps!!
Sample Questions

• A youngster is making waves with her jump

rope. She produces waves of wavelength
1.2m. The waves leave the rope and enter
the air at a speed of 5m/s. If the waves
have a new wavelength of .9m, what was
their original speed?
 More Notes and Examples
• Refraction is the property which describes a
wave’s behavior change as it changes media.
• Examples of medium changes that cause refraction
– 1.) Air to water
– 2.) Deep water to shallow water
– 3.) Thin rope to thick rope
– 4.) Air to a porous barrier
 More Notes
• Refraction causes a change in speed and
wavelength, but does not effect frequency.
• If a wave changes media at an angle, then
the direction the refracted wave will move
will change.
 New Section!!!!!!!!!!
• E. Diffraction
– Defined as the bending of waves around objects
placed in their paths.
– Again, this bending may cause a change in
speed and/or wavelength, but it will not affect
frequency.
 More on Diffraction
• Diffraction Patterns
– When waves encounter barriers, diffraction
occurs in such a way depending on how the
wave reaches the barrier.
– Examples include a single barrier, two barriers,
or a double diffraction pattern
 Another New and Improved
Section!
• III. Sound Waves
– Sound waves are classified as longitudinal
waves. They share all properties of waves.
– The frequency of sound waves is termed pitch. The
higher the frequency, the higher the pitch.
– The amplitude of sound waves is termed loudness. The
greater the amplitude, the louder the sound.
– The velocity of sound in air is approximately 330m/s at
0°C. Changes in temp. will cause an increase or
decrease in the sound wave’s speed.
There’s a lot more where this
came from…
• Reflected sound waves are called echo’s. Bats use
reflected sound waves to locate objects.
• Constructive interference of sound waves leads to
richer sound, called stereo-maximum constructive
interference is termed resonance.
• Destructive interference can lead to dead areas
where little or no sound is heard.
• Sonic booms are caused when objects move faster
than the waves they create, this causes
constructive interference of sound waves as the
object moves.
 Sound Waves

Molecules in the air vibrate about some average position

creating the compressions and rarefactions. We call the
frequency of sound the pitch.
 Shock Waves
Produced by supersonic aircraft,
three-dimensional cone shaped
Sonic boom – sharp crack heard
when conical shell of
compressed air that sweeps
behind a supersonic aircraft
reaches listeners on the ground
below.
Supersonic
 - slower
 Subsonic than the speed of sound

• Supersonic - faster than the speed of sound

speed of object
Mach Number =
speed of sound