Waves

Waves

1. Anatomy of a Wave

   • The crest is the maximum positive amount of displacement from the equilibrium point
   • The trough is the maximum negative amount of displacement from the equilibrium point.
   • The amplitude (A) is the distance from the equilibrium point to the crest.
   • The wavelength (λ) is the length from crest to crest or trough to trough and corresponds to one cycle.

2. Mechanical Waves

   • A mechanical wave is the one that needs a medium to travel
   • transverse wave
     • particles in a medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the wave’s motion.
   • longitudinal wave
     • when the particles in a medium vibrate in the same direction of the wave’s motion

3. Speed of a wave

   • Where: V= speed (m/s) λ= wavelength (m) f = frequency (1/s)

4. Energy of a Wave

   • I= wave’s intensity (Watt/m2) v= speed of propagation (m/s) ρ= density of the medium (kg/m3) f=fFrequency (Hz) A= amplitude (m)

5. Resonance

   • create a single vibration with a higher amplitude and a resonant frequency

6. Earthquakes and Waves

   • a) Longitudinal: b) Transverse: c) Rayleigh Waves: d) Love Waves: