Features of Waves (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Physics)

Waves & energy transfer

• Waves transfer energy without transferring matter

  • For sound waves, this means it is the wave and not the air molecules (the matter) itself that travels

• Objects floating on water provide evidence that waves only transfer energy and not matter 

  • It is possible to see objects on the surface of the water bob up and down but not change their position

  • This is because the wave and not the water (the matter) itself that travels

• Waves are described as oscillations or vibrations about a fixed point

  • For example, ripples cause particles of water to oscillate up and down

  • Sound waves cause particles of air to vibrate back and forth

Wave motion

• Wave motion can be illustrated by:

  • vibrations in ropes and springs

  • experiments using water waves

Wave vibrations

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Waves can be shown through vibrations in ropes or springs

• Properties of waves can be observed using water waves in a ripple tank

  • Properties include frequency, wavelength and wave speed as explained in the next section

Wave motion in a ripple tank

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Wave motion of water waves may be demonstrated using a ripple tank

Features of a Wave

• When describing wave motion, there are several terms which are important to know, including:
  

  • Wavefront

  • Wavelength

  • Frequency

  • Crest (peak)

  • Trough

  • Amplitude

  • Wave speed

Wavefront

• Wavefronts are a useful way of picturing waves from above: each wavefront is used to represent a single wave

• The image below illustrates how wavefronts are visualised:

  • The arrow shows the direction the wave is moving and is sometimes called a ray

  • The space between each wavefront represents the wavelength

  • When the wavefronts are close together, this represents a wave with a short wavelength

  • When the wavefronts are far apart, this represents a wave with a long wavelength

Wavefronts are viewed from above

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Diagram showing a wave moving to the right, drawn as a series of wavefronts

Wavelength

• Wavelength is defined as:

The distance from one point on the wave to the same point on the next wave

• In a transverse wave:

  • The wavelength can be measured from one peak to the next peak

• In a longitudinal wave

  • The wavelength can be measured from the centre of one compression to the centre of the next

• The wavelength is given the symbol λ (lambda) and is measured in metres (m)

• The distance along a wave is typically put on the x-axis of a wave diagram

Wavelength and amplitude of a transverse wave

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Diagram showing the amplitude and wavelength of a wave

Frequency

• Frequency is defined as:

The number of waves passing a point in a second

• Frequency is given by the symbol f and is measured in Hertz (Hz)

Crests & troughs

• A crest, or a peak, is defined as:

The highest point on a wave above the equilibrium, or rest position

• A trough is defined as

The lowest point on a wave below the equilibrium, or rest, position

Wave crests and troughs

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Diagram showing a crest and a trough on a transverse wave

Amplitude

• Amplitude is defined as:

The distance from the undisturbed position to the peak or trough of a wave

• It is given the symbol A and is measured in metres (m)

• Amplitude is the maximum or minimum displacement from the undisturbed position

Wave speed

• Wave speed is the speed at which energy is transferred through a medium

• Wave speed is defined as:

The distance travelled by a wave each second

• The equation used to calculate wave speed is explained in The wave equation