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Characteristics of Waves

Characteristics of Waves. Wavelength, Frequency, Speed, Period, and Amplitude. Waves. Wave – a disturbance that transmits energy. All waves: are caused by vibrations travel outward from the source of vibration have a wavelength, frequency, speed, period, and amplitude. Waves.

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Characteristics of Waves

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  1. Characteristics of Waves Wavelength, Frequency, Speed, Period, and Amplitude

  2. Waves • Wave – a disturbance that transmits energy. • All waves: • are caused by vibrations • travel outward from the source of vibration • have a wavelength, frequency, speed, period, and amplitude

  3. Waves • Different types of waves: • Mechanical wave • Example: Sound or seismic waves • Travels through matter • Caused by vibrating matter • Electromagnetic wave • Example: Light • Can travel through vacuum • Caused by vibrating charges

  4. Waves • Disturbance can move in two ways: • Transverse wave • Disturbance is perpendicular to direction of wave motion • Longitudinal (or compressional) wave • Disturbance is parallel to direction of wave motion

  5. Water Waves: Both Transverse and Longitudinal

  6. Properties of Waves • Wavelength () • Distance from one wave crest to the next. • SI Unit: meters

  7. Wavelength  

  8. Wavelength  High density Low density 

  9. Properties of Waves • Frequency (f ) • No. of waves that pass a fixed point per unit of time. • SI Unit: s-1 or Hertz (Hz)

  10. Properties of Waves • Velocity (v) • How fast a wave travels. • v = f*  • SI Unit: m/s

  11. Properties of Waves • Period (T) • Time required for one complete wave to pass. • Inverse of frequency • T = 1/f • SI Unit: s • Amplitude (A) • Maximum displacement of wave • Demo: Sound Waves Applet

  12. Amplitude A A

  13. Amplitude Higher Amplitude Lower Amplitude

  14. Waves • What is the frequency of a wave whose speed is 400 m/s and whose wavelength is 20 meters? • v = f • (400 m/s) = (20 m)f • f = 20 Hz

  15. Waves • What is the period of a wave whose speed is 550 m/s and whose wavelength is 50. m? • v = f • f = v/ • T = 1/f • T = /v = (50. m)/(550 m/s) = .091 s

  16. Waves • A certain wave has a frequency of 445 Hz and a wavelength of 2.20 meters. How fast is the wave traveling? • v = f • v = (445 Hz)(2.20 m) • v = 979 m/s

  17. Waves • A certain wave has a period of 3.15 seconds and a wavelength of 500. meters. How fast is the wave moving? • v = f • f = 1/T • f = 1/3.15 s = 0.317 Hz • v = (500. m)(0.317 Hz) • v = 159 m/s

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