Wave Motion And Points On Wave For Cambridge A level And UTME

Bolarinwa Olajire Last Updated: February 8, 2023

In this article, I will discuss part of wave (e.g lowest and highest point of waves) and classes of waves. A wave allows energy to be transferred from one point to another without any particle of the medium traveling between the two points.

Classes of Waves

Wave motion can be classified base on:

Mode of Propagation

The class of waves under this are

Mechanical wave: this requires a material medium for propagation

Electromagnetic wave: This travels in a vacuum

Mode of vibration

The class of waves under this are:

(i) Longitudinal waves

(ii) Transverse waves

Diagramatic representation of waves

sinewave1

Points On A Wave

points on a wave

Rest position – the undisturbed position of particles when they are not vibrating.
Peak or Crest – the highest point above the rest position.
Trough – the lowest point below the rest position.
Amplitude – the maximum displacement of a point of a wave from its rest position.
Period (T): it is the time taken for a particle to undergo one complete cycle of oscillation.
Frequency (f): it is the number of oscillations performed by a particle per unit time.
Wavelength (λ): it is the distance between any two successive particles that are in phase, e.g. it is the distance between 2 consecutive crests or 2 troughs.
Wave speed (v): The speed at which the waveform travels in the direction of the propagation of the wave.
Wave front: A line or surface joining points which are at the same state of oscillation, i.e. in phase, e.g. a line joining crest to crest in a wave.
Displacement : it is the Position of an oscillating particle from its equilibrium position.
Amplitude: it is the maximum magnitude of the displacement of an oscillating particle from its equilibrium position.

To deduce V = fλ

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no of cycle = n

time = Tn

distance = λn

substitute all into the velocity = distance/time

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Note

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F is the frequency and the S.I base unit is Hertz(Hz)

T is the period and the S.I base unit is second(s)

λ is the wavelength and the S.I base unit is meter(m)

therefore,

V = fλ

Displacement-distance graph and Displacement-time graph

wavessinusodialtimedistance

The first graph is a displacement-distance graph. On this graph you can find wavelenght and amplitude

The second graph is a displacement-time graph. On this graph you can find period, frquency and amplitude

The only difference between the two graphs is what you can calculate from it.

Phase difference: this is an amount by which one oscillation leads or lags behiod another. it measures in degree or radian.

Phase difference between waves that are exactly out of phase is π radians or 180 degrees

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progressive wave: it is a propagation of energy as a results of vibrations of waves which move energy from one place to another.

Intensity: it is defined as power incident per unit area. The intensity of wave generally decreases as it travels along. The two reasons for this are: