Waves Revision 2009 Transverse Wave

In which particles (or in the case of EM, the E and B-fields) oscillate to the direction of wave propagation

(Progressive) Wave
Disturbance (vibration) which propagates, carrying energy w/o physically transferring the wave particles. has 2 types Can be studied via the following graphs

has

Intensity (amplitude)2 or I = kA2 where Intensity I = Power /Surface area (unit Wm-2) Power = Energy/time & Energy A2
e.g Intensity at distance r2 (see diagram) I = P/ 4r2 (for spherical wave) Power received over area S = IS (thus I 1/r2)

Dir of wave travel Can be polarized Unpolarized light Plane polarized light

polarizer EM Spectrum rays X rays UV Visible light IR waves Radio waves 10-10 10-14 m 10-9 10-12 m 10-7 10-10 m 4 7 x 10-9 m 10-3 10-7 m 10-1 10-3 m 10-2 103 m

Longitudinal Wave Displacement-DISTANCE graph of a wave travelling to the RIGHT In wh-1(g)ch particles oscillates // to the direction of wave propagation Path difference,x displacement E.g. Sound time t = 0s (oscillation of amplitude time t = 1s air molecules) Particle B distance Graphical representation Particle A Wavelength displacement rarefaction +R -L compression distance (Snap shots of the entire wave at t = 0s, t = 1s) Displacement-TIME graph of particles A and B on the wave displacement amplitude Particle A Particle B time Period T Interval t

Area S

Source generating constant power P

Phase difference bet. A & B can be found from EITHER displacementdistance graph

As , f (since c= f where c = 3 x108 ms-1)

2 (rad)

OR displacement-time graphs

Experiment to determine wavelength of sound using stationary sound waves (refer to Superposition) Loud speaker reflector microphone detects the pressure variations +R CRO screen of a calibrated CRO e.g. Sensitivity (y-plates) set at: 5Vcm-1 Time base (x-plates) set at: 50s cm-1 Then Period T = 2 x 50x 10-6 = 10-4 s -L A N N A A N

(Oscillation of individual particles - same as x-t graph in SHM) displacement Pressure variation A: antinode N: node

t 2 T

(rad)

Signal generator

Frequency, f = 1/T Speed of wave, v = /T = f wavefronts Direction of travel NOTE: Speed of wave particles (in SHM) f !

distance N A A N N A A N N A A N N A (Pressure) (displacement)

The displacement node undergoes max pressure variation: low and high pressure alternate every a period; thus it is a pressure antinode. = 2 x internodal distance