What are waves?

A wave is a phenomenon in
which energy is transferred
through vibration.

Types of Waves
Transverse Waves

Longitudinal Waves

Transverse Waves
are waves which travel in a direction
perpendicular to the direction of
vibrations.

Direction of wave

Direction of vibrations

Generating Transverse Waves

Transverse Waves
examples include

water waves
rope waves
light wave
electromagnetic waves

Longitudinal Waves
are waves which travel in a direction
parallel to the direction of vibrations.
Direction of vibration
Direction of wave

examples include

sound waves

Generating of Longitudinal
Waves [slinky spring]

Characteristics of A Wave

Crests and Troughs

Amplitude
Wavelength
Frequency
Period
Speed

Crests and Trough

Crests are high point of a wave
Troughs are low point of a wave
displacement
crest

crest

distance

trough

Amplitude (A)
is the height of a crest or depth
of a trough measured from the
normal undisturbed positions.
displacement
crest

crest

Amplitude
distance
Amplitude
trough

SI Unit For Amplitude

is measured in metres (m)
displacement

crest

crest

Amplitude

distance
Amplitude

trough

Wavelength ()
is the distance between two
successive crests or troughs
displacement
crest

Wavelength

crest

Amplitude

distance

Amplitude

trough

trough
Wavelength

SI Unit For Wavelength

is measured in metres (m)
displacement

crest

Wavelength

crest

Amplitude
distance

Amplitude
trough

trough

Frequency (f)
is the number of vibrations in
one second.

SI Unit For Frequency

is the Hertz (Hz)
1 Hz is 1 vibration in 1 second.
50 Hz is 50 vibrations in 1 second.

Test Yourselves
Explain the meaning of

28 Hz,
100 Hz ,
135 Hz,
1570 Hz.

Period (T)
is the time taken for one complete
vibration. (or oscillation or cycle)

SI Unit For Period

is measured in second (s)

Relationship between Period (T) and

Frequency (f)

f
f
f
f
f

=
=
=
=
=

100
40
23
8
f

Hz
Hz
Hz
Hz
Hz

T = 1/100 s
T = 1/40 s
T = 1/23 s
T = 1/8
s
T = 1/f
s

Relationship Between
f and T

1
T
f

Speed Of a Wave
is the distance moved in one
second.

SI Unit For Speed

is measured in metre per second (ms -1or m/s)

Wave Equation
Speed of a wave
= wavelength period
= wavelength x frequency

V = f

where v = speed, f = frequency and

= wavelength

Describing Waves
Displacement-Time Graph
for one particle on the wave
displacement

time

9. The diagram shows the outline of a water wave.

What are the values of the amplitude and the
wavelength?

A
B
C
D

amplitude / cm
0.6
0.6
0.6
1.2

wavelength / cm
10
20
30
20

11. Which wave is longitudinal ?

A
B
C
D

light
radio
sound
water

11. The speed of 100 Hz wave was measured on four

different days. The results are shown in the table.
On which day the wave have the longest
wavelength ?
day
A
B
C
D

speed of wave
315 ms-1
320 ms-1
335 ms-1
340 ms-1

9. A source vibrates at frequency of 20 Hz and

produces waves of wavelength 0.02 m.
At which speed do these waves travel out from
the source ?
A
B
C
D

0.001 ms-1
0.021 ms-1
0.40 ms-1
20
ms-1

Hint:

v = f

9. A VHF radio station broadcasts at a frequency of

60MHz (6.0 x 107 Hz). The speed of radio
waves is 3.0 x 108ms-1.
What is the wavelength of the waves broadcast by
the station?
A
B
C
D

0.2 m
0.5 m
2.0 m
5.0 m

Hint:
v = f

5. The diagram shows a coil spring along which a

longitudinal wave is moving.
(a) Mark on the diagram a distance equal to the
wave length of the wave.
[1]
(b) Label on the diagram with the letter C where
the coils of the spring are compressed.
[1]

Wave length
(continue in next slide)

(Cont. ) Q 5

(c) Is the wave on the spring more like a sound wave

or a light wave?
[1]
Sound wave, because sound wave is a longitudinal
wave but light wave is a transverse wave..

Nov 1997
5. The diagram below shows a transverse wave
travelling a rope.
wavelength
amplitude

(a) Mark on the diagram which is equal to (i)

the wavelength, (ii) the amplitude of the wave.
Label your answers.
[2]
(b) If the wavelength is 0.8m and the frequency
is 2 Hz, what is the speed at which the wave
moves along the rope ?
[2]
v = f = 0.8 x 2 = 1.6 ms-1

Nov 1996
6(a) Explain the difference between a transverse
and a longitudinal wave.
[2]
Transverse wave is a wave that its direction of
vibration is perpendicular to the direction of
propagation. It can travel through vacuum.
Longitudinal wave is a wave that its direction of
vibration is parallel to the direction of
propagation. It needs medium to travel.
(b)

State one example of each type of wave.

Transverse
Light
Longitudinal Sound
[2]

GCE O LEVEL

Nov 1995

9.(a) Explain the difference between transverse and

longitudinal waves, referring in your answer to
the direction in which the waves travel.
[2]
Transverse waves are waves that their direction
of vibration is perpendicular to their direction
of propagation.
Longitudinal waves are waves that their
direction of vibration is parallel to their
direction of propagation.

(continue on next slide)

(Cont. ) Q. 9

Nov 1995

9.(b) The speed of sound in water is 1500m/s. What is a

wave length of a sound wave of frequency 250Hz
travelling through water ?
[2]
Since
therefore

v = f
1500 = 250
= 1500 / 250 = 6.0 m

Nov 1993
6. The diagram shows the air pressure at different
distances from a loudspeaker.
wavelength
amplitude

(a) Mark carefully on the diagram:

[2]
(i) a distance which is the wavelength of the
sound wave;
(ii) the amplitude of the sound waves.
(continue on next slide)

(Cont. ) Q. 6

Nov 1993

6(b) If the wavelength of a sound wave of frequency

250 Hz is 1.4 m, calculate the speed of the wave.
[2]
since
v = f
therefore,
= 1.4 x 250
= 350 ms-1

5.(a) With the aid of a diagram, explain what is meant

by the frequency and wavelength of a wave. [5]
Frequency is the
number of vibrations

per second.
Wavelength is the distance from a point on a
wave to its next corresponding point.
It usually denote as ..
(b) What is a longitudinal wave ?
[2]
Longitudinal wave is a wave that its direction
of vibration always parallel to the direction of
propagation.
(continue in next slide)

Waves : Introduction
1. To understand some common
sources of waves
2. To understand the differences
between longitudinal and
transverse waves
3. To understand properties which
are common to all waves

Waves : Types of Wave

There are many different types of
waves but broadly they can be split
into two types:
Mechanical Waves :
These require a medium to travel
through : Examples include sound, water
waves and seismic waves. They all
require a medium for vibration to be
transmitted.

Electromagnetic Waves :

Waves : Longitudinal
In Longitudinal waves the direction
Waves
of vibration is parallel to the
direction
ofofwave travel
Direction
vibration

Direction of
travel
(Propagation)
Examples
include : Sound waves &

Primary seismic waves

Waves : Transverse Waves

In Transverse waves the direction of
vibration is perpendicular to the
direction of wave travel
Direction
of
vibration
Direction of
travel
(Propagation)
Examples
include : All

electromagnetic waves & Secondary

Waves : Comparisson

WaveMotion Animation

Waves : Key Terms 1

The displacement of a vibrating
particle is its distance and direction
from the equilibrium position

The Amplitude is the maximum

displacement. For a transverse
wave this is the maximum height of
the wave crest or trough. It can be

Waves : Key Terms 2

The wavelength is the distance in
metres between the same point on
two successive waves

The top of the wave is called the

crest

Waves : Key Terms 3

The frequency of a wave is the
number of cycles per second. Units
are Hertz (Hz)
The Period
T,
(measured
in seconds)
of a wave
with
frequency f
is the time
for one
WaveMeasure Animation
WaveCharacteristics Animation
complete

Waves : Wave Speed

Waves : Polarisation 1
With transverse waves the displacement is
perpendicular to propagation.... There is
still a further dimension to consider : The
wave can vibrate up-down or left-right and
everything in between

Waves : Polarisation 2
Further examples

Waves : Polarisation 3
Polarised sunglasses reduce reflected
glare
Light from the
original source is
likely to be
unpolarised.
However, annoying
reflections from
water and glass
are likely to be
polarised and can
be removed with a
filter