Basic Terms of wave

Wave Properties

• Wave motion is a disturbance transmitted through a medium without the medium itself being transported.
• There are two types of waves:
  • Transverse waves: particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave motion. Examples include electromagnetic radiation and seismic S-waves.
  • Longitudinal waves: particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave motion. Examples include sound waves and seismic P-waves.

Wave Characteristics

• Displacement: The distance of an oscillating particle from its equilibrium position.
• Amplitude (A): The maximum distance of the particle from its equilibrium position.
• Wavelength (λ): The distance between two successive identical points on a wave, like the distance from one crest to the next.
• Period (T): The time taken for one complete cycle of oscillation, which is also the time taken for the wave to move forward one wavelength.
• Frequency (f): The number of complete cycles performed per unit time. It is the reciprocal of the period (f = 1/T).
• Wavefront: Imaginary lines drawn through identical points on waves, like through each crest. They are perpendicular to the direction of wave motion.

Wave Speed

• Wave speed (v): The distance the wave travels per unit time. It can be calculated using the formula v = λf, where λ is the wavelength and f is the frequency.

Example Applications & Problems

• Finding Wavelength and Amplitude: Graphs can be used to identify wavelength and amplitude in different waves using the definitions of these characteristics provided above.
• Calculating Frequency, Period, and Wave Speed: The formulas T = 1/f, f = 1/T, and v = λf can be used to find the frequency, period, and wave speed given information about the wave.
• Wave Reflections: Wave reflections occur when waves bounce off a barrier, which can be used to determine the distance between the wave source and the barrier.