Note taking of General Wave properties and sound waves
A wave is a source to transfer energy from one place to another.
● Energy transfers in the direction of a wave.
● Medium does not transfer in the direction of a wave.
● There are two types of waves.
i) Longitudinal waves.
ii) Transverse waves.
● Longitudinal waves have compressions and rarefactions
● In the longitudinal waves, particles vibrate parallel to the direction of motion of a wave.
● In the longitudinal waves, particles vibrate left right from a rest position.
● Sound waves are longitudinal waves.
● In the transverse waves, particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of motion of a wave.
● Transverse waves have crests and troughs.
● In the transverse waves, particles vibrate up and down from a rest position.
● All electromagnetic (Light, radio, X-rays, gamma rays, ultra violet, infrared) and water waves are transverse waves.
● Wave energy moves horizontally in both (transverse and longitudinal) waves.
Compression is a region of high pressure.
● Rarefaction is a region of low pressure.
● Compression is shown by a crest.
● Rarefaction is shown by a trough.
● Distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions is a wavelength
Wavefront is a straight line joining all the points on the same crest or trough of a wave.
● Wavefront makes it easier to see a lot of waves moving together.
● Wavefronts are always perpendicular to the waves.
Waves front
● The amplitude of a wave is the maximum height of a wave from rest position.
● The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs is called a wavelength.
● Frequency is the number of waves passing a fixed point in one second.