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Waves and Wave Properties
Waves and Wave Properties
And…what is light?
Answer: Light is a wave (and a
particle).
So…what is a wave?
Answer: A wave is a disturbance, or
vibration, that carries energy from
place to place.
A wave does NOT carry matter with
it! It just moves the matter as it goes
through it.
Some waves do not need matter
(called a “medium”) to be able to
move (for example, through space).
compression
rarefaction
The energy of a wave is proportional to the
square of its amplitude. Mathematically
speaking . . .
E = A2
Where:
E = energy (the capacity to do work) in Joules
A = amplitude
For example:
If the amplitude is equal to 3 units
E = (3)2 = 9 joules
Note that when the amplitude of a wave is one
unit, the energy is one unit.
• When the amplitude is doubled, the energy is
quadrupled.
• When the energy is 10 times greater, the energy is
100 times greater!
Amplitude Energy
1 1
2 4
3 9
4 16
5 25
6 36
7 49
8 64
9 81
10 100
Energy, in joules, is also measured by using
frequency (v) and Planks Constant.
E=(h) (v)
Where:
E = energy in Joules
h = Planks constant 6.626X10-34
v= frequency of the wavelength
Example:
Calculate the energy of a photon of radiation
with a frequency of 8.5 x 1014 Hz.
E=hv
E=(6.626X10-34)(8.5 x 1014)
E=5.63 ×10-19 J
Therefore,
OR
v = (()גf)
v = 170m/1 second
v = 170 m/s
Speed of Sound
in Different Mediums
Medium velocity m/sec
air (20 C) 343
air (0 C) 331
water (25 C) 1493
sea water 1533
diamond 12000
iron 5130
copper 3560
glass 5640
Changing Wave Direction
1.Reflection: When waves bounce off a surface.
This is the
law of reflection.
2. Refraction: Waves can bend.