A transverse pulse is a single disturbance that moves through a medium, causing particles to oscillate perpendicular to the direction of the pulse's travel.
A transverse wave is a continuous sequence of disturbances in which particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Examples include waves on a string and electromagnetic waves.
The medium of a wave is the substance or material through which the wave travels, such as air for sound waves or water for ocean waves.
A transverse pulse is a single disturbance, whereas a transverse wave is a continuous and periodic sequence of such disturbances.
The pulse length is the distance over which a pulse occurs.
The wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points in phase, such as crest to crest or trough to trough.
The amplitude is the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position, indicating the wave's energy.
The crest is the highest point of a wave, while the trough is the lowest point.
Points are in phase when they have synchronized oscillations; they are out of phase when their oscillations are opposite.
The period is the time taken for one complete cycle to pass a given point, while the frequency is the number of cycles per second. They are related by:
Constructive interference occurs when two waves meet in phase, resulting in increased amplitude. Destructive interference occurs when two waves meet out of phase, leading to reduced or canceled amplitude.
The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, the resulting displacement is the algebraic sum of the individual displacements.
A longitudinal wave is one in which particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction of wave travel. Examples include sound waves in air.
In longitudinal waves, compression refers to regions where particles are close together, while rarefaction refers to regions where particles are spread apart.
Sound waves are longitudinal waves characterized by properties such as wavelength, frequency, amplitude, speed, and they can undergo reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference.
When sound waves encounter a surface, they bounce back, a phenomenon known as reflection, which can lead to echoes.
An echo is a reflected sound wave that is heard after the original sound. The time delay between the original sound and the echo depends on the distance to the reflecting surface and the speed of sound.
Sonar uses sound waves to detect objects underwater by emitting pulses and measuring the time taken for echoes to return.
Ultrasound imaging employs high-frequency sound waves to create images of internal body structures. The sound waves reflect off tissues, and the echoes are used to construct images.
Geophysical prospecting involves sending seismic waves into the Earth and analyzing the reflected waves to study subsurface structures, aiding in resource exploration.
When analyzing wave diagrams, identify the wavelength, amplitude, crests, troughs, and points that are in phase or out of phase.
Use the relationship between period and frequency: