1.

0 WAVES
1.1 UNDERSTANDING WAVES

WAVES
Cause by vibrations or oscillations.
Transport energy without permanently
displacing the medium.
Can either be a Mechanical waves which
require a medium to travel eg. Sound wave
or Electromagnetic waves which do not
require a medium to travel.
There are two types of waves:

Transverse Waves:
The vibration of the particles of the
medium is perpendicular (up and
down ) to the motion of the wave.
eg. Water waves, rope waves and
waves on springs.

Longitudinal Waves:
The vibration of the particles of the
medium is along the same direction
as the motion of the wave.
eg. Waves on springs and sound
waves.

Direction of oscillations

Direction of wave

Direction of oscillations
Direction of wave

Oscillations are at right angles to

direction of motion

In longitudinal waves, particles oscillate along line of wave direction

Push
C

Right
Crest
Direction
of
vibration

Pull
Direction of wave motion of a slinky.

Trough
Left

C- Compression,
R- Rarefactions

Direction of wave motion of a slinky

Activity 1.1 a :

Transverse and Longitudinal Waves.

1. If the vibrations of a wave are at right angles to the direction of the wave, it is called a
wave. An example of this type of wave is
2. If the vibrations of a wave are along the direction of the wave, it is called a
wave. An example of this type of wave is
3. Given a string tied to a pole, how would you shake the string in order to produce :
(a) a transverse wave?

(b) a longitudinal wave?

4. State the difference between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.

WAVEFRONTS
An imaginary line representing all the points of a wave that are in the same phase.
For example a wavefront can be drawn by joining all the crests of a wave.
The direction of wave travel is always perpendicular to the wavefront.
Figures below show how circular wavefronts and plane wavefronts are produced.

Circular Wavefronts

Plane Wavefronts

Activity 1.1 (b)

1. Waves can be drawn on paper using lines to join adjacent points of the waves which are
.These lines are known as

of the wave.If

the lines are straight, then they are known as

circular, then they are known as

but if the lines are

.

2. The direction of propagation of a wave is always

to the

of the waves.
3. Draw the direction of propagation of wave for each of the following wavefronts.
a)

b)

DESCRIBING WAVES
MOTION

Oscillations of
A loaded spring and a pendulum
Upwards

Downwards

Graph below shows the

displacement of the above rope
along its length at a certain instant of
time.

Displacement/m

Crest

Crest

+A
Amplitude A

Distance/m
Amplitude -A

-B

Trough

Term

Symbol

Explanations
The maximum displacement of the oscillator from its equilibrium position.

Amplitude

Wavelength

Distance between any two successive wave crests, troughs or points which
are in phase.

Crests and
troughs

High points and low points that characterize transverse waves only.

Displacement

DISPLACEMENT-TIME GRAPH

Displacement/m
T
Q

+a

Amplitud

Mean
R

Position

-a

Time/s

Positive
displacement

Negative
displacement

Term
Period
Frequency

Symbol
T
f

Unit
Second(s
)
Hertz(Hz)

Explanation
The time required for one complete cycle.
The number of complete cycles per second

DISPLACEMENT
f=
and
DISTANCE
T = GRAPH

Distance

In one period (T), a crest will have moved a distance of one wavelength ().
Therefore the speed of the wave, v is given by:
V=

(but

Therefore Wave velocity

V=

Worked example 1:

0.3m

The above figure shows waves moving on a slinky with frequency 3 Hz and a wavelength of 0.3m.What is
the wave speed?
Given frequency of wave, f = 3 Hz
Wavelength of wave,
= 0.3 m
The wave speed
v = f
= (3)(0.3)
= 0.9 ms-1
Actvity 1 .1(c) :
1. The wavelength of a wave is the
or

between two successive

. The unit for wavelength is

2. The frequency is the number of

.
oscillations made in

The unit for frequency is

second

3. The velocity of a wave is equal to

multiplied by

4. The time taken for a vibrating system to make a complete oscillation is known as

5. The number of complete oscillations made by a vibrating system is known as

6. The distance travelled by awave in one second is known as .

7.If the period of an oscillating system is 0.2 s and its wavelength is 60 cm, what is the velocity of
the wave formed by this oscillating system ?
Given T =

and =

Therefore f =
=
By using the formula v = f
Therefore

v=

8. Sketch a displacement-distance graph for a wave, showing two complete oscillations.On your graph,
mark:
(a) The wavelength of the wave,
(b) The amplitude of the wave

DAMPING AND RESONNANCE

Energy transfer in vibration system
X Potential energy is maximum.
Y Kinetic energy is maximum
Z Potential energy is maximum

Z
Y
A Simple Pendulum

Displacement x/cm

a1

a2

a3

a4

Time/s

a1>a2> a3> a4
Damping occurs if a vibrating system gradually loses its energy in overcoming resistance to its
motion and will eventually stop vibrating.Decreasing amplitude is due to energy loss.

Example:
An empty swing that is swinging will eventually come to a stop after sometime if it is not
pushed.
RESONANCE

The tendency of an object to absorb more energy when the frequency of the oscillations matches the objects natural frequenc

Resonance: A phenomenon that happens

when a vibration system is forced to
vibrate with its natural frequency.

l1
x

l2

Resonance:
Can be observed using a Bartons
Pendulum.The Driving Pendulum forces six
pendulums of different lengths to vibrate.

l3

Bartons Pendulum :
Each of the six pendulum has its
natural frequency.The pendulum that
vibrates with the largest amplitude is
said to be in resonance with the
driving pendulum.

l4
l5
l6

Driving pendulum

Pendulum with various length

Example:
If an Opera sings at the same frequency as the natural frequency of a glass, the glass tends to
absorb more and more energy and eventually will break.

TRUE STORY
On the morning of November 7, 1940, the four month old Tacoma Narrows Bridge began to oscillate
dangerously up and down. A reporter drove out on the bridge with his cocker spaniel in the car. The bridge
was heaving so violently that he had to abandon his car and crawl back to safety on his hands and knees.
At about 11:00 the bridge tore itself apart and collapsed. It had been designed for winds of 120 mph and
yet a wind of only 42 mph caused it to collapse. How could this happen? No one knows exactly why.
However, the experts do agree that somehow the wind caused the bridge to resonate. It was a shocking
calamity although the only loss of life was the cocker spaniel.

Activity 1.1 (d):

1. The natural frequency of a pendulum depends on the
independent of
.

of the pendulum and is

2. Explain what happens to a vibrating system after it is allowed to vibrate over a long period of time.
3. Resonance occurs when the applied

of the driving vibration is equal to the

of the vibrating system.

4. If two strings on the same guitar are tuned to exactly the same frequency and one of them is plucked,
a) What will happen to the other string?

b) What is the effect stated in (a) called?

5.Sketched the displacement time graph for a vibrating system that is experiencing:
a) Very slightly damping.
Displacement

Time

b) Very heavy damping.

Displacement

Time

ASSESSMENTS.
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS.
1.Which of the graph shown below represents a
wave of an amplitude 2.0 cm and frequency
20 Hz?

2.The diagram shows a wave traveling in the sea.

R

B
P

Which points are exactly one wavelength apart ?

A P and R
B Q and S
C Q and T
D S and T

3.A wave transfers

A molecules.
C matter

B energy
D force

5.Which of the following is an example of

longitudinal waves ?
A Waves in a ripple tank.
B Light waves in water.
C A vibrating guitar string.
D Sound waves produced by a string.

4.Water waves are being generated in a ripple tank at

a rate of 5 Hz .This means that in one second the
number of wavefronts passing through a fixed point
is:
A 0.2
B 2.5
C 5.0
D 10.0 E 12.0
6.In air, what is the wavelength of sound of frequency
2500 Hz ?The speed of sound in air is 330ms-1.
A 0.004 m
B 0.003 m
C 0.132 m

D 7.58 m

E 6.7 m
7.A source vibrates at a frequency of 20 Hz and
produces waves of wavelength 0.02m.What
is the speed with which the waves travel out
from the source?
A 0.001 ms-1.
B 0.02 ms-1
C 0.40 ms-1
D 20 ms-1

8. The incidents listed below involve resonance

except :
A A glass will break when a Soprano sings
infront of it.
B Certain parts of a bus vibrated as the bus
moves.
C An egg breaks as it falls down on a floor.

9.

10. Which of the following produces longitudinal

waves?

Displacement

Time

What are the effects on frequency and energy

of the wave shown in the above displacement
time graph as the time increases.
Frequency
Energy
A
increase
no change
B
increase
decrease
C
no change
increase

10

no change

decrease

STRUCTURED QUESTION.
Q1. A wave source of frequency 1000 Hz emits waves length 0.10 m. How long does it take for the waves
to travel 2500 m ?

(a) Explain the meaning of the expression the frequency is 1000 Hz ?

Q2. Figure below shows a student setting up waves on a long elastic cord. The students hand makes one
Complete up-and-down movement in 0.40 s, and in each up-and-down movement the hand moves
Through a height of 0.30 m. The wavelength of the waves on the string is 0.80 m.

0.3 m

For this wave, determine :

(a) The amplitude

(b) The frequency

(c) The speed.

Q3(a) Figure below shows the graph of the variation of the displacement of a wave with distance along the
wave at a particular time.
Displacement

State values for:

(i) the amplitude of the wave.

(m)
0.6

Distance/m

10
-0.6

11

(ii) the wavelength of the wave.

(b)Figure below shows the graph of the variation of the displacement of the same wave with time at a
part
displacement/m
0.6

time/s
0

2.5

-0.6

State the values for :

(i)

the time for one complete cycle.

(ii)

The frequency of the wave.

(c) Calculate the speed of the wave drawn in the above figures.

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1.2 ANALYSING

REFLECTION OF WAVES.

WATER WAVES

Incident wavefronts

Reflected rays

Incident rays

Reflected
wavefronts
Normal
Direction of reflected
wave

LIGHT WAVES
Reflected light ray
Incident light ray

Shiny smooth plane

SOUND WAVES

Card board tube

Flat hard surface to

reflect sound wave.

Stop
watch

Ear
Soft surface to absorb
sound wave.

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LAWS OF REFLECTION
1. The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal all lie in the same plane.
2. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, i.e. i = r.

EFFECTS OF REFLECTION OF WAVE

Velocity v
Remain the same before and after
reflections

Frequency f
Wavelength

ASSESSMENT 1.2.
1.The diagram shows a light ray with an incident angle of 5 being reflected by a plane mirror MN. The
5
mirror is then rotated clockwise through an angle of 15.
15

What is the new angle of reflection of the light ray?

A 5
B 10
C 15
D 20
2. Which diagram shows the correct pattern of reflected water waves?

14

STRUCTURED QUESTION.
1. When a wave is reflected from a plane surface, the angle of
angle of

is equal to the

2.If a ray of light strikes a plane surface at an angle of 45 to the normal, the angle of the reflected ray to
the normal is

3. Sometimes while hiking, you may be able to hear your shout being reflected from a cliff. What is this
effect known as, and what causes this to happen ?

4. Draw a diagram to show how a plane mirror reflects light waves from a lamp placed infront of it.
(Follow the instructions listed below)
(a) Draw a straight line perpendicular to the incident wavefronts to show the line of
propagation of the wave.Show the direction of propagation.
(b) Draw a dotted line which is perpendicular to the plane mirror to indicate the normal.
(c) By using a protractor measure the angle of incidence i.
(d) Then draw a line which is at an angle r from normal to represents the direction of
propagation of reflected light waves.Note that i = r.
(e) Draw straight dotted lines representing the reflected wavefronts which are
perpendicular to the line drawn in (d).

Incident wavefronts

Plane
mirror

Lamp

15

ANSWER KEY.
Activity 1.1 (a)
1.transverse wave, water wave.
2.longitudinal wave, sound wave.
3.(a) shake the spring from side to side.
(b)shake the spring forward and backward.
4. Energy in a transverse wave travels in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the
vibrations.But energy in a longitudinal wave travels along the direction parallel to the direction
of the vibrations.
Activity 1.1(b)
1.in phase, wavefronts, plane wavefronts,circular wavefronts.
2.(a) perpendicular, wavefronts.
(b)

Activity 1.1(c)
1.distance, crests, troughs, meter.
2.complete, one, hertz.
3. frequency, wavelength.
4. period
5. frequency.
6. speed of wave
7. 300 cms-1
8. displacement/cm

Period T
Displacement/cm

amplitud

amplitud
Distance/cm
Time/s

Frequency f =
Activity 1.1 (d)
1.length,mass of bob.
2.The vibrations will slow down and the amplitude will decrease.
3. frequency, natural frequency.
4.(a) It will vibrate with a maximum amplitude.
(b) Resonance

16

5.

ASSESSMENT.1.1
OBJECTIVE:
1
A
3
B
5
D
7
C
9
D

2
4
6
8
1
0

C
C
C
C
A

STRUCTURED QUESTIONS.
1.Speed of wave, v =
= f
Therefore

t =

2.(a) Amplitude =

= 25 s

= = 0.15 m

(b) Frequency =
=
=2.5 Hz
(c) Speed, v = f= 2.5 x 0.8 = 2.0 ms-1
3.a (i) 0.6 m
(ii) 5.0 m
b (i) 1.25 s
(ii)0.80 Hz
c Speed of the wave = Wavelength X Frequency = 5.0 x 0.8 = 4 ms-1
ASSESSMENT 1.2
OBJECTIVE
2. D
3. A
STRUCTURED QUESTION.
1. incidence, reflection.
2. 45
3. reflection of sound wave or echo.
4.

17

i
r

18