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wave

Tags
phys/light
phys/wave
sec/5
cegep/3
Word count
170 words
Reading time
2 minutes

Travelling oscillating disturbance that carries energy without transfer of mass

[!abstract] wave pulse
Single disturbance, e.g. one jerk of a rope

Properties

amplitude

Maximum displacement of particles
Sym. A

period

Time taken for one peak to pass through a point
Ant. frequency

T=1f

wave direction

Transverse: motion of medium perpendicular to direction of propagation
Longitudinal: motion of medium parallel to the direction of propagation

Types

  • Mechanical: propagates through a physical medium

    [!example] Sound, ocean wave

  • Electromagnetic
  • Gravitational
  • Matter

Representation

Snapshot: displacement as a function of position at a given moment in time
History graph: displacement as a function of time at a given point in space
3D: both time and space

+

The leading edge is in the direction of the wave in snapshot.
The leading edge always comes first (left) in history graph.
=> the snapshot and the history graph are reversed for a wave going right.

Contributors

Changelog