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PROPERTIES OF WAVES
Definition Of Terms
Wave

A wave is a disturbance in a medium which carries energy.

Wave front

It can be the position of the crests of a wave shown by straight lines. A wave front is always
perpendicular to the direction of the wave. Think of a wave front as the crest of a transverse
wave or the compression of a longitudinal wave.

Fig 1.10 Wave fronts

When a stone is dropped in a pond, at the point where the stone hits the water surface, circular
ripples are formed which expand outwards. These are water waves travelling in a circular wave
front. If you’ve watch an object floating on the water after it has being disturbed, you will
notice that the object moves up and down in its original position.

Fig 1.0 Water waves being formed by disturbed water. Waves carry energy with them.
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Displacement-Displacement Graph

This graph can be used to show wavelength and amplitude.

Fig. 3.10. A displacement-displacement graph

Wavelength (λ)

It is the distance between two (2) similar but successive points on a wave.

It is denoted by the Greek letter lambda (λ) and it is measured in metres (m

From Fig. 3.10, A and C are similar and successive, therefore the distance between A and C can
be the wavelength of the wave or the distance between B and D.

Amplitude

It is the maximum displacement of a vibrating particle from the undisturbed or rest position.
From Fig. 3.10. a, is the amplitude of the wave.
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Displacement-Time Graph

This graph can be used to show period and amplitude.

Fig. 3.20. A dispacement-time graph.

Period (T)

The time taken to make a complete wave is called the PERIOD (T).From Fig. 3.20 P and R are
similar and as such PR is gives us the period of the wave. The same applies to QS.

Other Terms.
Frequency (f)

It is the number of complete waves made in a given period of time. Also frequency can be the
number of waves passing a point in a given period of time. It is measured in HERTZ (Hz).

number of waves/vib rations/oscillations

Frequency is the inverse of period such that

1 1
T= and f=
f T
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Wave Speed ()

It is the displacement of a wave per unit time. It is measured in metres per second (m/s).

The WAVE EQUATION

The relationship between the speed, wavelength and the frequency of a wave is given by the
equation

Wave speed = wavelength x frequency

=λf

Types of Waves

Transverse Waves

These are the waves produced when particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of
the wave. Fig. 2.1 shows the particle displacement in relation to the wave motion.

Fig. 2.10. Particle displacement in a transverse wave.

Fig. 2.11. Using a slinky spring to illustrate transverse waves.

They are characterized by crests and troughs. Examples include: Water waves, EM waves and
secondary seismic waves.

Longitudinal waves

These are the waves produced when particle displacement is parallel to the direction of the
wave. Fig. 2.21 shows the particle displacement as a longitudinal wave passes through matter.

Fig. 2.21. Particle displacement in a longitudinal wave.

Fig. 2.22. Using a slinky spring to illustrate a longitudinal wave.

They are characterized by compressions and rarefactions. Examples include: Sound waves,
shock waves from explosions and primary seismic waves.
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Classwork
1. The waves below are traveling across water.

Calculate

i. Wavelength of the waves.

ii. Period of the waves

iii. Frequency of the waves.

iv. Wave speed

2. The lines in the diagram below are crests of straight water waves

i What is the wavelength of the wave?

ii. If wave A occupied 5 seconds ago the position now occupied by wave F, what is

the frequency of the wave?

iii. What is the speed of the wave?

3. A set of waves has a period of 10 seconds. If their speed is 2 m/s calculate their

wavelength.
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Reflection, Refraction and Diffraction of Waves

Waves can undergo reflection (bounce back), refraction (bend) and diffraction (spreading out).
Water waves traveling from deeper water to shallow water will undergo a change in speed and
the wavelength while the frequency remains the same. The speed and the wavelength
decreases. This is due to refraction.

Reflection of waves Refraction of waves

Water waves traveling over a straight wave front spread out when they pass through an
opening. Water waves passing over a narrow opening behaves as if they are produced by a
point source (that is they become circular). This phenomenon is called DIFFRACTION.

Diffraction of waves Diffraction of sea waves as they pass into a

Classwork
4. In the diagram below light waves are incident on an air-glass boundary. Some are
reflected and some are refracted in the glass.

(i) Which of the following is not the same for the incident and refracted waves?

frequency, wavelength, direction, speed, brightness

(ii) Complete the diagram above to illustrate the refracted and reflected waves.