Wave Handout

Waves occur all around you in the physical What is the relationship between wave speed,
world. When you throw a stone into a lake, wavelength and frequency? They are related by
water waves spread out from the splash. When the equation: wave speed = frequency x
you strum the strings of a guitar, sound waves wavelength. The frequency of a wave is
carry the noise all around you. When you switch inversely proportional to the wavelength.
on a lamp, light waves flood the room. Water,
sound, and light waves differ in important ways
but they all share the basic properties of wave The Sun is an important source of ultraviolet
motion. For instance, you can see water waves (UV) waves, which is the main cause of sunburn.
and surfers would say that they enjoy riding the
waves. On the other hand, you don’t see sound
waves and light waves but you experience them
in other ways. Your ears can detect sound waves
and your skin can get burned by ultraviolet
waves if you stay under the sun for too long.
A wave is a periodic disturbance that moves

away from a source and carries energy with it.
For example, earthquake waves show us that
the amount of energy carried by a wave can do
work on objects by exerting forces that move
objects from their original positions.
Waves can be typified according to the direction

of motion of the vibrating particles with respect
to the direction in which the waves travel.
Waves in a rope are called transverse waves

because the individual segments of the rope
vibrate perpendicular to the direction in which
the waves travel. When each portion of a coil
spring is alternatively compressed and Sunscreen lotions are transparent to visible light
extended, longitudinal waves are produced. but absorb most UV light. The higher a
Waves on the surface of a body of water are a sunscreen’s solar protection factor (SPF), the
combination of transverse and longitudinal greater the percentage of UV light absorbed.
waves. Each water molecule moves in a circular Why are UV rays harmful to the skin compared
pattern as the waves pass by. to visible light?
How do we know that waves carry energy? Compare the frequency and energy carried by
Waves can set other objects into motion. UV waves to that of visible light. UV waves have
higher energy and frequency compared to
What happens when waves pass by? visible light.
Particles vibrate alternately to transport the Mechanical waves like sound, water waves,
energy of the wave. earthquake waves, and waves in a stretched
string propagate through a medium while
electromagnetic waves such as radio waves, every one second while the wavelength is the
visible light, and gamma rays, do not require a distance between adjacent crests or troughs.
material medium for their passage. 4. The period is the time required for one
complete wave to pass a particular point.
5. The speed of the wave refers to the distance
the wave travels per unit time. It is related to the
The activities in the module are all about wave frequency of the wave and wavelength through
motion or the propagation of a pattern caused the following equation:
by a vibration. Waves transport energy from one
place to another thus they can set objects into
motion.
How do waves propagate?
What happens when waves pass by?
1. In mechanical waves, some physical medium
1. Transverse waves occur when the individual is being disturbed for the wave to propagate. A
particles or segments of a medium vibrate from wave traveling on a string would not exist
side to side perpendicular to the direction in without the string. Sound waves could not travel
which the waves travel. through air if there were no air molecules. With
2. Longitudinal waves occur when the individual mechanical waves, what we interpret as a wave
particles of a medium vibrate back and forth in corresponds to the propagation of a disturbance
the direction in which the waves travel. through a medium.
3. The motion of water molecules on the surface
of deep water in which a wave is propagating is 2. On the other hand, electromagnetic waves do
a combination of transverse and longitudinal not require a medium to propagate; some
displacements, with the result that molecules at examples of electromagnetic waves are visible
the surface move in nearly circular paths. Each light, radio waves, television signals, and x-rays.
molecule is displaced both horizontally and
vertically from its normal position.
4. While energy is transported by virtue of the
moving pattern, it is important to remember
that there is not net transport of matter in wave
motion. The particles vibrate about a normal
position and do not undergo a net motion.
How can you describe waves?
1. The crest and trough refer to the highest point

and lowest point of a wave pattern,
respectively.
2. The amplitude of a wave is the maximum
displacement of a particle of the medium on
either side of its normal position when the wave
passes.
3. The frequency of periodic waves is the
number of waves that pass a particular point for

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Waves occur all around you in the physical What is the relationship between wave speed,

A wave is a periodic disturbance that moves

Waves can be typified according to the direction

Waves in a rope are called transverse waves

How can you describe waves?

1. The crest and trough refer to the highest point

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