Waves
Parts of waves
Intensity
Types of waves
Amplitude
Frequency
wavelength
Speed of wave
phase
Period
The position of a certain point on a wave cycle
The length of one whole oscillation
A wave’s maximum displacement from the equilibrium position
The number of complete oscillations passing through a point per second (units: Hz) formula: f =1/T. The frequency of a sound wave can be measured using a calibrated cathode-ray oscilloscope
Distance travelled by the wave per unit time. v = f x λ
Time taken for one full oscillation
Transverse waves
Longitudinal waves
transverse waves have vibrations perpendicular to
the direction in which the wave travels.
Longitudinal waves have vibrations parallel
to the direction in which the wave travels
Mechanical waves
produced by vibrating objects
Progressive waves
carries energy from one place to
another
Electromagnetic waves
Doppler effect
the change in an observed wave frequency when a source moves with speed Vs
f(o) = (f(s) x v)/(v ± vs)
Two points on a wave separated by a distance of one
wavelength have a phase difference of 0° or 360°
the wave power transmitted per unit area perpendicular to the wave velocity
intensity = power/cross-sectional area
units is Wm^-2
The intensity I of a wave is proportional to the square
of the amplitude A (I ∝ A^2).
All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed of 3.0 × 10^8 ms^−1 in a vacuum, but have different wavelengths and frequencies.
regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order
of increasing wavelength are: γ-rays, X-rays, ultraviolet,
visible, infrared, microwaves and radio waves.