Transverse & Longitudinal Waves

• waves

  vibrations that transfer energy from place to place without matter
• two types of waves

  • transverse
  • longitudinal
• transverse wave

  vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
• longitudinal waves

  vibrations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
• wave types

  A) longitudinal

  B) transverse

  
• features of a wave

  A) crest

  B) trough

  C) amplitude

  D) wavelength

  
• examples of transverse waves

  • electromagnetic waves
  • ripples
• examples of longitudinal waves

  • sound waves
  • shock waves
• a period is the time taken for one wave to pass a point
• period = 1 / frequency
• wave speed = frequency x wavelength
• PRACTICAL - WAVELENGTH & FREQUENCY

  1. freeze waves using a light strobe
  2. measure the length of 10 waves
  3. divide the length by 10 to obtain wavelength
  4. measure number of waves passing a point in 20 seconds
  5. divide by 20 to obtain frequency
• frequency can be measured with a sound meter or spectrometer
• waves can be absorbed, transmitted or reflected
• ray diagram

  A) incident waves

  B) incident ray

  C) normal

  D) reflected ray

  E) reflected waves

  
• reflection can be specular or diffuse
• compression

  high pressure or particles close together
• rarefaction

  low pressure or particles further apart
• reflection

  bouncing off surfaces of a medium
• plane surface is regular reflection
• diffuse surface is irregular reflection
• emitted

  given out from a source
• transmitted

  goes through a medium