Unit 7 Waves Chapter 11 Pages 326-355

Waves Waves travel through a medium Can be solid, liquid, or gas Waves transport energy A wave is a repeating movement that transfers energy through matter or space. Light waves and radio waves do not need a medium in order to travel through space.

Types of Waves Transverse – matter moves at right angles as wave travels Ex: water moves up and down, ocean wave moves to the right

Compressional wave – matter moves in the same direction as wave travels Ex: pulse through a slinky Sound waves The less dense area next to the compression is called the rarefaction.

Seismic waves are both

Wave Properties Wavelength – distance between one point on a wave and the nearest point just like it Frequency – how many wavelengths pass a fixed point each second (in Hertz) Amplitude – measure of energy in a wave, from the rest position to either the crest or the trough In compressional waves, the denser the medium, the larger the amplitude.

Equation Time! v = velocity (in m/s) Lambda = wavelength (in m) f = frequency (in Hz or wavelengths/s) v = lambda x f

Calculating Wave Speed A wave has a wavelength of 2m and a frequency of 3Hz. What is its speed?

Reflection Reflection occurs when a wave strikes an object and bounces off All waves can be reflected The Law of Reflection- The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection

Refraction Refraction is the bending of a wave caused by a change in its speed as it moves from one medium to another The greater the change in speed, the more the waves bends

Moving into a medium in which it slows down, the wave refracts toward the normal Ex: light moves from air to water Moving into a medium in which it speeds up, the wave refracts away from the normal Ex: light moves from water to air

Diffraction Diffraction occurs when an object causes a wave to change direction and bend around it Refraction= passing through Diffraction= going around an object The larger the obstacle compared to the wavelength, the less diffraction AM radio waves diffract more than FM waves so reception is better

Interference When two or more waves overlap and combine 2 types: 1. Constructive- the waves add together 2. Destructive- the waves subtract from each other

Standing Waves Waves of equal wavelength and amplitude, traveling in opposite directions, continuously interfere with each other Place where they cross and cancel each other are called nodes Musical instruments produce standing waves

Resonance The natural frequency of a bell’s vibration depends on the bell’s size, shape, and material The ability for an object to vibrate by absorbing energy at it’s natural frequency is called resonance Ex: tuning fork