Waves

Waves: waves transfer energy by means of disturbance through (along) a medium. The wave
does not move the medium (the net movement = 0), it only disturbs it for a time. This can be
called an oscillation. When it is repeated in equal time periods, it’s called periodic oscillation.

Vibration: periodic movement where the oscillation alternates in its direction around a rest
position or equilibrium position.

Pulse: a single disturbance and a wave is a series of pulses.

Types of waves:
Transverse- disturbance perpendicular to wave motion

Longitudinal- disturbance parallel to wave motion

Torsional- disturbance orbits around rest axis

f = (1/t) and T = (1/f)

T = time for one cycle
F = frequency (1/second)

Waves cause a disturbance in a medium and do not interact with other waves, but the medium
must. Interference is the net effect of two waves (constructive interference | destructive
interference)

Super position:

Constructive interference:

Destructive interference:

Refraction: bending of waves as they change speeds entering a medium at an angle

Reflection:
Angle of incidence = angle of reflection

Diffraction: the apparent bending of waves around obstacles or through a gap

Harmonics:
Sound: a longitudinal wave through a medium (compressions and refractions) though we
normally deal with air as the medium.
[Human hearing can hear sounds between 20 Hz and 20 000 Hz]

– Infrasonic: below 20 Hz
– Sonic: regular sound
– Ultrasonic: above 20 000 Hz
– Subsonic: below speed of sound
– Supersonic: above speed of sound
– Transonic: around speed of sound
– High supersonic: 3 < v < 5 mach
– Hypersonic: 5 < v < 10 mach
– High hypersonic: 10 < v {≤25} mach

Mach = a unit of velocity relative to the speed of sound

Speed of light: v = (332 m/s) + (0.59 (m/s)/C) x T

Doppler effect: apparent frequency change of a moving sound source as it passes an observer

f1 = (v) / (v ± vs) x f { + away, - towards}