Introduction to Waves: Types, Properties, and Applications, Study notes of Particle Physics

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Intro to Waves

What are Waves?

Rhythmic disturbances that carry

energy without carrying matter

Mechanical Waves

Waves that need matter (medium) to transfer energy: Examples: Sound waves, ocean waves, ripples in water, earthquakes, wave of people at a sporting event

Some examples of

Mechanical

Waves

Example: Speed of Sound

• 344 m/s in air at 20°C
• Depends on:
  • Type of medium
    • travels better through solids than through liquids
    • can’t travel through a vacuum
  • Temperature of medium
    • travels faster at higher temperatures

Transverse

(Mechanical) Waves

• Energy causes the matter in the medium to move up

and down or back and forth at right angles to the

direction the wave travels.

• Examples:
  • Waves in water
  • Sound waves

Parts of a Transverse Wave

The crest is

the highest

point on a

wave.

The trough is the valley between two waves; the lowest point. Parts of a Transverse Wave

The amplitude is the peak (greatest) value (either positive or negative) of a wave. The distance from the undisturbed level to the trough or crest. Parts of a Transverse Wave Application:

• Higher amplitude = more intense (louder) sound

The frequency is the measure of the number of waves passing a point in one second Unit: Hertz Parts of a Transverse Wave 1 second

Compressional/Longitudnal Wave

• A mechanical wave in which matter in the medium moves forward and backward along the same direction that the wave travels. Ex. Sound waves A slinky is a good illustration of how a compressional wave moves

Parts of a Longitudnal Wave The compression is the part of the compressional wave where the particles are crowded together.

The rarefaction is the part of the compressional wave where the particles are spread apart. Parts of a Longitudnal Wave