Waves Basics

Question 1

What are waves?

Answer 1

Energy transfer by oscillation

Question 2

What are the types of oscillation

Answer 2

• Longitudinal: oscillations travel parallel to direction of energy transfer
• Transverse: Oscillations are perpendicular to energy transfer

longitudinal needs a medium, while tranverse doesn’t

Question 3

What are the types of wave graphs and what do they show?

Answer 3

• Displacement distance graph: Shows amplitude and wavelength, and is a snapshot of the wave in one instance
• Displacement time graph: Shows Time period and amplitude. Frequency can be derived by f=1/T. Shows the view of one particle’s oscillations over time.

Question 4

Derive the wave speed formula

Answer 4

Wave speed = Distance/time
v=s/t
for one wave cycle, s=λ and t=T
v=λ/T=λf, because f=1/T