Wave Basics
Progressive waves
- Progressive waves transfer energy from one place to another without transfering any material.
- A wave is caused by making particles oscillate at a source.
- E.G. EM waves cause things to heat up, loud sounds can cause air to vibrate/oscillate.
- Waves can be reflected, refracted and diffracted.
Reflection:
Refraction:
Diffraction:
Measurments of waves
- Displacement: x, measured in metres. (how far a point on a wave has moved from it's undisturbed position)
- Amplitude: A, measured in metres. (distanced to the top of the wave's peak from the undisturbed position)
- Wavelength: \(\lambda\), measured in metres. (difference between two crests on a wave)
- Period: T, measured in seconds. (time it takes for a wavelength to occur)
- Frequency: f, measured in Hz (number of wave peaks/troughs per second)
- Phase (measurment of a specific point on a wave as it travels) (measured in degrees or radians)
- Phase difference (the amount of how far one wave lags behind another) (measured in degrees or radians)