WAVES

WAVES

1. A wave is a disturbance created by the transferation of energy through a medium from one location to another.

2. Classification of waves

   • Mechanical & Electromagnetic
     • Electromagnetic
       • Are capable of tansmiting energy without a physical medium.
     • Mechanical
       • In order to transmit energy, it needs a physical medium such as water or air.
   • Waves can be classified in two different ways
   • Transverse & Longitudinal
     • Transverse
       • The particles of the medium move in a direction perpendicular to the direction the wave moves.
     • Longitudinal
       • The particles of the medium move in a direction parallel to the direction that the waves move.

3. Travelling waves

   • Wavelenght
     • Horizontal distance between crests or troughs of 2 adjacent waves.
       • λ
   • Amplitude
     • Maximum displacement on either side of the equilibrium point.
       • A
   • Period
     • Seconds it takes to do one cycle
       • T=1/F
   • Frequency
     • Number of cycles done in one second.
       • F=1/T
   • Wave Speed
     • Distance travelled by a wave per second.
       • V=F λ

4. Doppler Effect

   • Effect produced by a moving source of waves in which there is an apparent upward shift of frequency for observers towards whom the source is approaching
     • Is what you hear when, for example an ambulance is approaching you and the siren is louder and then it goes past you and the sound drops.
       • F'= (V/V-Vs)(F)

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