Wave Equations

Wave Equations

  • Waves are disturbances or oscillations that travel through space and matter, and they transfer energy from one point to another.

  • There are two main types of waves: longitudinal waves (where the vibrations are parallel to the direction of the wave, e.g. sound waves) and transverse waves (where the vibrations are at right angles to the direction of the wave, e.g. light waves).

  • Key properties of waves include wavelength, frequency, wave speed, and amplitude.

  • Wavelength is the distance between two corresponding points on a wave, such as from crest to crest or trough to trough. It is usually measured in metres.

  • Frequency is the number of waves passing a point each second. It is measured in hertz (Hz).

  • Wave speed is the speed at which the wave is travelling and is usually measured in meters per second (m/s).

  • Amplitude is the maximum displacement from the wave’s mid-point and measures the height of the wave. It is usually an indicator of how much energy the wave is carrying.

  • The wave equation describes the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength. The formula is: Wave speed (v) = frequency (f) x wavelength (λ)

  • Manipulating the wave equation can help analyze waves and their properties. For example, the wavelength of a wave can be found by dividing the wave speed by the frequency (λ = v/f), and the frequency can be found by dividing the wave speed by the wavelength (f = v/λ).

  • The properties of waves can be used in various technologies, like radio, television, and mobile phones, which use electromagnetic waves to transmit information.

  • It’s important to understand wave interactions, too, including reflection (bouncing of waves), refraction (bending of waves due to change in speed), diffraction (spreading of waves around obstacles), and interference (when two waves meet and either amplify or cancel each other).

  • All these principles apply to different types of waves (sound waves, seismic waves, water waves, light waves, etc.). Understanding them provides a foundation for advanced topics in physics.