Motion of Waves

An oscillating or vibrating motion in

which a point or body moves back and
forth along a line about a fixed central
point produces waves.
an oscillating or vibrating system acts
as the source of waves which transfer
energy from one point to another(
without transferring matter)
Propagation of waves
When a waves travels through a medium, the
particles of the medium vibrate about their
equilibrium positions.
However, the particles of the medium do not
travel in the direction of the waves.
A waves transfers energy and the momentum
from the source of the waves to the
surroundings.
Type of Waves
Waves can be classified into 2 groups:
- transverse wave
- longitudinal wave
A transverse wave is a wave where the
particles of the medium vibrate in a direction
that is perpendicular to the direction of the
wave motion.

Example:
Light wave, water wave
Water waves
1.When discussing wave, its important to know what is
meant by the crest and trough of a wave.
2.The point at which the displacement of the water from its
normal level is highest called the crest of the wave
3.The point at which the displacement of the water from its
normal level is lowest called the trough of the wave.
A longitudinal wave is a wave where the
particles of the medium vibrate in a direction
that is parallel to the direction of the wave
motion.
Example:
Sound Wave
Longitudinal Wave Compression and Rarefaction

Unlike transverse wave, longitudinal waves have no
crest and trough, instead, they have compression and
rarefaction.
In compression regions of longitudinal waves, wave
particles of the medium are packed closer.
In rarefaction regions, wave particles of the medium
are packed further apart
A wavefront is a line or plane on which the
vibrations of every point on it are in phase and
are the same distance from the source of the
wave.
Points in a wave are in phase if they vibrate in
the same direction with the same
displacement.
Wavelength is the distance between two successive
wave front
The amplitude, A of a vibrating system is the
maximum displacement from its equilibrium
position.
The period, T of the vibrating system is the time
taken to complete an oscillation.
If a vibrating system makes n complete oscillations in a
time of t second, the period of oscillations, T of the
system is t/n seconds
T = Time taken,t/ no of complete oscillations, n
SI Unit: second,s

The frequency, f is the number of complete
oscillations made by a vibrating systems in one
second.
SI unit: herts(Hz) or
1

T=
1

or f=
1


The wavelength , is the distance between two
successive points of the same phase in wave.
Velocity = frequency, f x wavelength,
v = velocity
f = frequency
= wavelength

Finding wavelength from diagram

Transverse Wave
Wavelength is the distance
between two successive crest or
trough.
Longitudinal Wave
Wavelength is the distance between
two successive compression or
rarefaction.
Example:
The figure above shows the simulation of
longitudinal wave by using a slinky
spring. What is the wavelength of the
wave?
Example:
The figure above shows the simulation of
transverse wave by using a slinky spring.
What is the wavelength of the wave?
12.5 cm
In a displacement-time graph, we can determine

The displacement of the oscillating object at any
time
The amplitude
The period.
Figure above shows a displacement versus time graph for a
vibrating object.
a) Find the amplitude, period and frequency for the
vibrating system.
b) What is the displacement of the object at t = 0.3 s,

1. A Displacement Distance graph shows the position of each particle in a
wave relative to its distance from a reference point.
2. The distance between two (2) successive crest or trough is the
wavelength.
3. The maximum displacement of the particles from the equilibrium position
(displacement = 0) is the amplitude.
4. The amplitude of the wave will increase as the energy transfers by the
wave increase and vice versa.
Damping and Force Oscillation

Natural Frequency
- The Natural frequency of an oscillating system is
the frequency of the system when there is no
external force or forces acting on it.

Damping, Force Oscillation and Resonance

Damping
Damping is the decrease of amplitude of an oscillating
system.
An oscillating system experiences damping when its
energy is losing to the surrounding as heat energy.
Usually, the frequency of the system remain
unchanged.

(Displacement-time graph of a damped oscillation)
(Amplitude-time
graph of a damped
oscillation)
Type of Damping

Damping can be divided into:
a) internal damping , where an oscillating system
loses energy to overcome frictional force or air resistance
that act on it.
b) external damping , where an oscillating system
loses energy due to the extension and compression of the
molecules in the system.

Force Oscillation
1.In a damped oscillation, external force must be applied to
the system to enable the oscillation to go on continuously.
2.Oscillation with the help of external force or forces is
called a force oscillation.
Resonance
In a force oscillation, if the frequency of the external force is
equal to the natural frequency of the system, the system will
oscillates with maximum amplitude, and this is named as
resonance.

Examples of Resonance
1. Opera singer breaks a wine glass with her voice due to the
effect of resonance.
2. Tacoma Narrow Bridge in USA collapsed in 1940 due to the
effect of resonance.
3. A moving bus produces excessive noise at certain speed
when the frequency of the engine equal to the natural
frequency of the bus.

Applications of Resonance

- Resonance is used to tune radio or television to your
favourite channels.

Bartons Pendulum
The characteristic of resonance can be demonstrated
with a Bartons pendulum system.
Observation
1. When pendulum X oscillates, the other
pendulums are forced to oscillate.
2. Pendulum D will oscillates with the
largest amplitude.