Form 5 - Chapter 1 Understanding Waves

Example of Waves

Learning Requirements :

 Waves

 
- An oscillation or vibrating motion in which a point or body moves back and forth along a line about a fixed central point produces waves.
- An oscillating or vibrating system acts as the source of waves which transfer energy from one point to another ( without transferring matter).

 Source of vibration

 

Propagation (Traveling of waves)

- When a waves travels through a medium, the particles of the medium vibrate about their equilibrium positions.
- However, the particles of the medium do not travel in the direction of the wave.
- A wave transfer energy and the momentum from the source of the wave (the oscillating or vibrating system) to surrounding.

Summary 

• Waves are produced by vibrating systems. 
• Waves transfer energy. Waves that travel through a medium transfer energy without transferring matter. 
•  In transverse waves, the direction of wave propagation is perpendicular to the of vibration of the particles. 
• In longitudinal waves, the direction of wave propagation is parallel to the direction of vibration of the particles. Longitudinal waves need a medium to propagate. This type of waves cannot propagate through vacuum.


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