Displacement- Time graph and displacement -Distance Graph for a wave

The sinusoidal graph shown is a graph of displacement, s against time , t of a load on a spring.

O is called the equilibrium position.

From a displacement-time graph for a wave, we can obtain
i) amplitude, a ,and
ii) period, T.

From a displacement- distance graph for a wave, we can obtain
i) amplitude, a ,and
ii) wavelength, λ

Relationship between Speed, (v) Wavelength,(λ) and Frequency (f)

The speed of a wave is determined by its wavelength, λ, and its frequency, f , according ti the equation V= f λ

For a wave moving at constant speed, increasing the frequency will result in a decrease in the wavelength.

For a wave moving at constant speed, decreasing the frequency will result in an increase in the wavelength.

Work example:

What is the frequency of water waves with the wavelength of 3.0 cm and traveling at a speed of 1.5 cm/s ?

solution :

Step 1: write formula first
V= f λ

step 2 : Substitute all given info into formula
1.5 cm/s = f x 3.0 cm

Step 3:find unknown
f = 0.5 Hz

Wave Properties

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1. Waves are produced by vibrating systems.

Vibrating systems

2. Waves transfer energy. Waves that travel through a medium transfer energy without transferring matter.


3. In transverse waves, the direction of waves propagation is perpendicular to the direction of vibration of the particles.
Example: water waves, light waves and electromagnetic waves.


4. In longitudinal waves, the direction of wave propagation is parallel to the direction of vibration of the particles.
Longitudinal waves need a medium to propagate. This type of waves cannot propagate through a vacuum.
Example: a sound wave.




5. A wavefront is an imaginary line representing all parts of a wave in which particles are vibrating in the same phase and have the same distance from the source.
The direction of propagation of waves is always perpendicular to the wavefront.


6. Amplitude, a, is the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.

7. Period, T, is the time required to make one complete oscillation.

8. Frequency, f, is the number of complete oscillations made in one second.

9. Wavelength, is defined as the distance between two consecutive points that are in phase.

( i ) For a transverse wave, wavelength can be measured as the distance from one crest and also the distance from one trough to the next trough.
(ii ) For a longitudinal wave, wavelength can be measured as the distance between
two consecutive compressions or two consecutive rarefactions.

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Wave Properties » Fun Trivia Maker

Ripple tank.

Ripple tank

A ripple tank is a shallow glass tank of water used in schools to demonstrate the basic properties of waves. The tank is illuminated from above, so that the light shines through the water.
The ripples on the water show up as shadow on the screen underneath the tank.
All the basic properties of waves can be demonstrated.


A stroboscope, also known as a strobe, is an instrument used to make a moving object appear to be slow-moving, or stationary.




Source http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Simple_ripple_tank.svg



The water acts as a lens to produce a pattern of bright and dark regions on the screen (or a piece of white paper).