WAVES

WAVE
•Periodic disturbance that
moves away from a
source
•“energy carrier”
CLASSIFICATION OF WAVES
•1. MECHANICAL WAVE
•needs medium to transmit
energy
•2. ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
•no medium required to
transmit energy
 CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO
DIRECTION OF PROPAGATION OF
TRAVEL
•1. TRANSVERSE WAVE
•The displacement of the medium is
perpendicular to the direction of
propagation of the wave.
•2. LONGITUDINAL WAVE
•The displacement of the
medium is parallel or along
to the wave
•3. SURFACE WAVE
•Travel at the surface of the
water
•Classified into “Love wave” and
“Rayleigh wave”
•LOVE WAVE- are the fastest
surface waves.
•REIGHLEIGH WAVE- responsible for
the shaking felt during an
earthquake
•*Vibration is the source of the
wave
 ANATOMY OF A WAVE

• Anatomy- study of structural make-up

• In general, wave is composed of:
• 1. Crest- highest point from equilibrium
position
• 2. Through- lowest point from equilibrium
position
• 3. Amplitude- the maximum displacement of
vibrating body from its equilibrium position
 TERMS

•Compression- particles are

close together = crest
•Rarefaction- particles are
farther apart = through
 WAVELENGTH
•Refers to the distance between
any successive identical parts of
the wave
•The distance from one crest to the
next is equal to one full
wavelength
•Symbol: _____ (Lambda)
 FREQUENCY
•The number of waves that pass
a particular point in every
second
•Unit of frequency= Hertz (Hz)
•1 Hz= 1 cycle/second
 PERIOD
•Time required for one
complete wave to pass a
given point
•Period= 1/ frequency
 WAVE SPEED
•The distance travelled by the
wave per second
•Wave speed= frequency x
wavelength