Waves Lecture Slides

Waves
What is wave motion?

Wave motion is the transfer of energy and momentum from one point of the medium to another point of the medium
without actual transport of matter* between two points. Wave motion is classified into three different ways they are,
• The medium of propagation,
• The dimensions in which a wave propagates energy,
• The energy transfer
Progressive Waves:
A progressive wave is one in which the wave travels/propagates while transferring energy from one point to another.
Progressive waves can further be classified into:
• Transverse waves
• Longitudinal waves
Transverse waves:
In a transverse wave, the direction of disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of propagation. A transverse waves
propagates by creating alternate regions of crests and troughs.
Examples of transverse waves are:
• Water waves
• Waves on ropes
• Electro-magnetic waves ( including light waves)
Longitudinal waves:
In a longitudinal wave, the direction of disturbance is parallel to the direction of propagation. A longitudinal wave travels
by creating alternate regions of compressions and rarefactions.
Examples of Longitudinal waves are:
• Sound waves
• Waves of springs
• Shock waves
When sound energy propagates, the air column is set up in a vibratory mode. Where the air columns move close
together, a region of high pressure (Compression) is created whereas where the air columns are farther apart, a region
of minimum pressure is created (Rarefaction).
Difference between Transverse and Longitudinal Waves:
Common wave terms:
Longitudinal wave
Transverse wave
Phase:
Phase specifies the location of a point within a wave cycle of a repetitive waveform
*In-phase points:
The points on a wave are in phase if they are at the same displacement and moving in the same direction
Wave Fronts:
A wave front is an imaginary line on a wave that joins all the points which are in the same phase. The amplitude of
particles along the same wavefront is the same.
There are two types of wavefronts:

(a) Circular wavefront
(b) Plane wavefront
Plane wave fronts:
The distance between two

consecutive crests is what we
know as wavelength. Therefore,
the distance between two
consecutive wavefronts, as seen
on the diagram, is the
wavelength of the wave form.
Lines joining all in-phase points (crests in the above diagram) on a wave.
In the above diagram, wave fronts have been drawn by joining all the crests (marked as c on the diagram).
We could also form wave fronts by joining all the troughs of the wave.
Plane wave fronts can be created in water by a vibrating bar as shown in the diagram.
Refer to this experiment in the video and observe plane wave fronts (00:52 – 00:55).
Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGuUKRmytLw
Individual waves
What you see in the video are not individual waves but plane wavefronts.
Circular wave fronts:
Note:
You have to draw circular

wavefronts using a compass.
See how all the crests

of the waves in 360
The distance between degrees are joined to
wavefronts is constant and form the circular
equal to the wavelength of wavefronts
the wave
Note:
If the frequency is constant, speed of the wave is

directly proportional to its wavelength.
At constant frequency, if wavelength is doubled, speed

will also be doubled
Link to the video showing reflection of water waves:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGuUKRmytLw
For reflection to be observed, water waves must be created in a
ripple tank, the structure of which is shown below. An oscillator is
allowed to vibrate on the surface of water creating water waves. A
barrier must be placed inside the tank so that the incident waves
strike the barrier and get reflected. This arrangement can be used to
observe reflection in both plane and circular waves.
During reflection, the speed, frequency and wave length remain

unchanged whereas the direction (therefore velocity) and intensity
of a wave changes.
Refraction of Water Waves
Water waves refract when they travel from one region to another of a different
depth.
When water waves travel from deep to shallow region:
• Water waves bend towards the normal

• Wave Fronts bend away from the normal
• Speed decreases
• Wave length also decreases
• Frequency remains unchanged

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Waves

What is wave motion?

Examples of transverse waves are:

Examples of Longitudinal waves are:

There are two types of wavefronts:

The distance between two

Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGuUKRmytLw

You have to draw circular

See how all the crests

If the frequency is constant, speed of the wave is

At constant frequency, if wavelength is doubled, speed

During reflection, the speed, frequency and wave length remain

When water waves travel from deep to shallow region:

• Water waves bend towards the normal

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