Types of Waves

Physics 11 Mechanical Waves  waves that involve the

motion of a substance (the medium) through

Traveling Waves which the wave moves

Electromagnetic Waves  a transverse wave

and Sound consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic
fields (no medium is required)

Types of Waves Matter Waves  at the atomic level, particles

Sound such as electrons and atoms must be treated as
The Doppler Effect
waves called matter waves

An Electromagnetic Wave Transverse Wave

disturbance

direction of travel
 An electromagnetic wave is a transverse
wave consisting of oscillating electric and
magnetic fields.

1
Longitudinal Wave Sound is a longitudinal wave

A wave in which the disturbance is parallel to the direction of

disturbance
travel of the wave.

direction of travel
disturbance

direction of travel

Sound Sound
 In sound waves, air molecules are disturbed in the same
direction as the wave.

 All sound is produced by an

 However, an individual air molecule does not travel object that oscillates back and
with the wave. It only oscillates back and forth.
forth.

2
Sound Sound
 A speaker produces sound by a diaphragm which
oscillates back and forth.

 The diaphragm produces successive regions of Regions of increased pressure are Regions of decreased pressure are
called condensations. called rarefactions.
increased pressure (condensations) and decreased
pressure (rarefactions).

Sound Sound

condensation

 Your eardrum then detects the differences

in air pressure.

3
Sound An Electromagnetic Wave

 An electromagnetic wave is a transverse

wave consisting of oscillating electric and
magnetic fields.

The Visible Spectrum The Electromagnetic Spectrum

 Imagine if you can, the world view of little

creatures, who could see only a very tiny portion
of the visible spectrum, creatures who are color
blind to all other parts. Their world view would
be very limited …
 Guess what? We are like those little creatures!  The electromagnetic spectrum consists of
We can see only a tiny portion of the known electromagnetic waves of all frequencies.
electromagnetic spectrum!

4
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
A stationary sound source

 Visible light makes up a very small portion (less What happens if the sound source is moving?
than one millionth of 1%) of the measured
electromagnetic spectrum.

If the sound source is moving toward an observer, The Doppler Effect

the observer will hear a sound of higher frequency.

I hear a I hear a
lower frequency higher frequency

 The frequency of sound (pitch) increases when

If the sound source is moving away from an observer, a source moves towards you.
the observer will hear a sound of lower frequency.
 The frequency of sound (pitch) decreases when
a source moves away from you.

5
The Doppler Effect
The Doppler Effect:
Formal definition: the change in frequency or
pitch of the sound detected by an observer
because the sound source and the observer have
different velocities with respect to the medium of
sound propagation.

When an observer is moving towards a stationary source, the What it means: if either you or the source of
frequency is greater (and the wavelength is smaller). sound is moving, you will hear a sound of a
When an observer is moving away from a stationary source, the different frequency than is being emitted.
frequency is smaller (and the wavelength is bigger).

Bow Waves and Shock Waves

An object traveling at the speed of sound bow wave  V-shaped wave produced by an object
moving on a liquid surface faster than the wave speed.

 A similar thing happens when a plane is traveling

A shock wave is formed! faster than the speed of sound. A sonic boom is heard
when the shock wave reaches listeners on the ground.

6
Breaking the Sound Barrier

v
sin  =
vs

v = speed of sound

vs = speed of object

We could figure out the speed of the jet by measuring

the angle of the Mach cone!