Understanding Wave

Wave

• A wave is a disturbance or variation that propagates through a medium, often transferring energy.
• Waves travel and transfer energy (its amplitude) and information (its frequency) from one point to another, with no permanent displacement of the particles of the medium.
• The particles of the medium are oscillate around an almost fixed positions.

What is phase?

• A phase is the current position in the cycle of something that changes cyclically.
• Two vibrating particles are in the same phase if their displacement and direction of motion are the same.

Wavefront

A wavefront is a line or a surface that connects points that are moving at the same phase and has the same distance from the source of the waves.

Wavefront is always perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

Wavelength

The wavelength (l) is defined as the distance between two successive particles which are at the same phase (exactly the same point in their paths and are moving in the same direction.).

As shown in the diagram, A and B are in the same phase, therefore the distance between A and B is the wave length of the wave.

Types of wave - Transverse Wave

A transverse wave is a wave where the particles of the medium vibrate in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the wave motion.

Example: Light wave, ripple, radio wave

Types of Wave - Longitudinal Wave

A longitudinal wave is a wave where the particles of the medium vibrate in a direction that is parallel to the direction of the wave motion.

Example: Sound Wave

Formula for velocity of wave