Mechanical Waves

Quick study of mechanical waves.

1. Waves
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2. There are two kinds of waves:
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3. There are two kinds of waves:
Electromagnetic (EM) Waves: Waves that can
self-propagate; it doesn’t need a medium.
Radio waves, UV, X-Rays and etc.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

4. There are two kinds of waves:
Electromagnetic (EM) Waves: Waves that can
self-propagate; it doesn’t need a medium.
Radio waves, UV, X-Rays and etc.
Mechanical Waves: Is a disturbance that travels
through a medium where the adjacent
particles in the medium can somehow
influence one another.
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6. Let’s Take a Look
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7. Let’s Take a Look
Let’s observe the different kinds of mechanical
waves:
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8. Let’s Take a Look
•Transverse Wave - Link
•Longitudinal Wave - Link
Let’s observe the different kinds of mechanical
waves:
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10. Note that there are no matter transfers in mechanical
waves. Progressive (traveling) waves transfer energy.
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11. Note that there are no matter transfers in mechanical
waves. Progressive (traveling) waves transfer energy.
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12. Note that there are no matter transfers in mechanical
waves. Progressive (traveling) waves transfer energy.
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13. Wednesday, March 25, 2009

14. Wavelength: The distance between 2 adjacent points
that are in phase with each other. Designated by the
greek letter lambda (λ).
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15. Wavelength: The distance between 2 adjacent points
that are in phase with each other. Designated by the
greek letter lambda (λ).
Frequency: The number of cycle that pass a specific
point in a unit of time (Hz). It’s determined by the
source of the wave.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

16. Wavelength: The distance between 2 adjacent points
that are in phase with each other. Designated by the
greek letter lambda (λ).
Frequency: The number of cycle that pass a specific
point in a unit of time (Hz). It’s determined by the
source of the wave.
Period: The time to complete one cycle of the wave.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

17. Wavelength: The distance between 2 adjacent points
that are in phase with each other. Designated by the
greek letter lambda (λ).
Frequency: The number of cycle that pass a specific
point in a unit of time (Hz). It’s determined by the
source of the wave.
Period: The time to complete one cycle of the wave.
Phase: It’s the fraction of a complete cycle
corresponding to an offset in the displacement.
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19. speed = distance/time
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20. speed = distance/time
wave speed = wavelength/period = wavelength x frequency
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21. speed = distance/time
wave speed = wavelength/period = wavelength x frequency
v = λ x f
Wednesday, March 25, 2009