PHYSICS FROM 5

WAVES

6.1 UNDERSTANDING WAVES

6.1.1 What is Wave?
1.

A wave is a disturbance or variation that propagates through a

medium, often transferring energy.

2.

Waves travel and transfer energy (its amplitude) and information (its
frequency) from one point to another, with little or no permanent
displacement of the particles of the medium.

Must Know:
Waves transfer energy without transferring physical matter.
Technical Terms
Phase
1.

A phase is the current position in the cycle of something that

changes cyclically.

2.

Two vibrating particles are in the same phase if their displacement

and direction of motion are the same.
a.

In phase Same phase

b.

Out of phase Different phase

c.

Anti-phase Phase different = 180o

Wavefront

1.

A wavefront is a line or a surface that connects points that are

moving at the same phase and has the same distance from the source
of the waves.

2.

When a circular wave is formed, a circular wave front is formed.

3.

Characteristics of wavefront:
a.

wavefronts are always perpendicular to the direction of wave

propagation. (As shown in the diagram below)

b.

all the points on a wavefront have same distance from the

source of the wave.

Wavelength

The wavelength () is defined as the distance between two successive

particles which are at the same phase (exactly the same point in their
paths and are moving in the same direction.).

6.1.2 Types Of Waves

Waves can be classified into 2 groups
transverse wave
longitudinal wave

Transverse Wave
A transverse wave is a wave where the particles of the medium vibrate in
a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the wave motion.
Example:
Light wave, ripple, radio wave

Longitudinal Wave
A longitudinal wave is a wave where the particles of the medium vibrate in
a direction that is parallel to the direction of the wave motion.
Example:
Sound Wave

Transverse Wave Crest and Trough

1.

When discussing wave, its important to know what is meant by the

crest and trough of a wave.

2.

The point at which the displacement of the water from its normal
level is highest called the crest of the wave

3.

The point at which the displacement of the water from its normal
level is lowest called the trough of the wave.

Longitudinal Wave Compression and Rarefaction

1.

Unlike transverse wave, longitudinal waves have no crest and

trough, instead, they have compression and rarefaction.

2.

In compression regions of longitudinal waves, wave particles of the

medium are packed closer.

3.

In rarefaction regions, wave particles of the medium are packed

further apart.

Finding wavelength from diagram

Transverse Wave

Wavelength is the distance between two successive crest or trough.

Longitudinal Wave

Wavelength is the distance between two successive compression or

rarefaction.

Wave front diagram

Wavelength is the distance between two successive wave front

Example 1:

Figure above shows the propagation of a water wave. What is the

amplitude of the wave?
Answer: Amplitude=10cm2=5cmAmplitude=10cm2=5cm

Example 2 :

The figure above shows a transverse wave. The wavelength of the wave is

equal to
Answer: Amplitude=23x=23xAmplitude=23x=23x

Example 3:

The figure above shows the simulation of longitudinal wave by using a

slinky spring. What is the wavelength of the wave?
Answer: 3=15cm=153=5cm3=15cm=153=5cm
Example 4:

The figure above shows the simulation of transverse wave by using a

slinky spring. What is the wavelength of the wave?
Answer: 2=25cm=252=12.5cm
Displacement Distance Graph

1.

A Displacement Distance graph shows the position of each particle

in a wave relative to its distance from a reference point.

2.

The distance between two (2) successive crest or trough is the

wavelength.

3.

The maximum displacement of the particles from the equilibrium

position (displacement = 0) is the amplitude.

4.

The amplitude of the wave will increase as the energy transfers by

the wave increase and vice versa.

Comparing Displacement-Time Graph and Displacement- Distance Graph

Displacement-time graph - Graph of oscillation)

(Displacement-distance graph - Graph of Waves)

1.

Both the displacement-time graph and the displacement distance

graph looked similar. However they are 2 different types of graph.

2.

The displacement-time graph illustrate the displacement of an

object over time whereas the displacement-distance graph tell the
position of the vibrating particles of a wave.

3.

For a displacement- distance graph, the distance between 2

crest/trough represent the period whereas for the displacementdistance graph, it represents the wavelength.