Measuring Waves

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Key Terms

  • The displacement of a vibrating particle is its distance and direction from its equilibrium position
  • The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a vibrating particle. For a transverse wave, this is the height of a wave crest or the depth of a wave trough from its equilibrium position
  • The wavelength of a wave is the least distance between two adjacent vibrating particles with the same displacement and velocity at the same time.
  • One complete cycle of a wave is from maximum displaement to the next maximum displacement
  • The period of a wave is the time for one complete wave to pass a fixed point
  • The frequency of a wave is the number of cycles of vibration of a particle per second, or the number of complete waves passing a point per second. The unit of frequency is hertz (Hz)
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Wave Speed

The higher the frequency of a wave, the shorter its wavelength. For example, if waves are sent along a rope, the higher the frequency at which they are produced, the closer together the wave peaks are. The same effect can be seen on a ripple tank when straight waves are produced at a constant frequency. If the frequency is raised to a higher value, the waves are closer together.

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Phase Difference 1

Phase Difference is the fraction of a complete cycle between two points on a wave

Image result for Radians and Angles (http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/math/ito_08/Pics/UnitCircle.png)

[Only need 90, 180, 270 and 360]

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Phase Difference 2

(http://kaffee.50webs.com/Science/images/Wave.Features.gif)

  • B and F are in phase as they have exactly the same pattern of oscillation. They are one cycle apart so their phase difference is 1λ, 2π radians or 360°.
  • B and D are out of phase and have the opposite patterns of oscillation from each other. They are half a cycle apart so their phase difference is 1/2λ, π radians or 180°
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