Unit IV - Wave Phenomena
I.  Introduction to Waves
Wave – __________________disturbance that travels through a material or space
Ex)    ____________________________________ 
A. Waves and Energy
1.    Waves ___________  ___________________from one place to another 
        with no transfer of ____________
2.  Waves can be produced in two ways:
a.  Vibration of _____________________(requires a ___________________
 
        ex) _______________________________________________
 
b.  Small _______________ in the strength of an _____________ 
    
        
 (requires ______________________________) 
 
ex) _______________________________________________
                
B.  Pulses & Periodic Waves
 
1. Pulse – _____________________vibratory disturbance that moves from point to point
 
 
 
a.  When the pulse reaches a boundary with another medium, part is 
 
______________    and part is _______________
 
b.  When a pulse reaches a _____________, unyielding boundary, then
     
         the pulse is completely ________________________________________
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.  Periodic Wave – series of ________________________ disturbances in a medium
 pulse                                   periodic wave 
                
 
 
 

		
C.  Vibrations and Waves
 
1.    Longitudinal – a vibrational disturbance which is _________________to the direction in 

which the wave travels
      
ex) ______________(think of a guitar string)
 
 
 
2.   Transverse – vibrational disturbance which ________________________ to the direction 
in which the wave travels             
                                                
 
** Unlike longitudinal, transverse waves can be _______________ in many different 
planes.
Ex) ______________________________________________________
 
 
 
 
 

II. Characteristics of Periodic Waves 
A.  Frequency -        f =  ____________________  Units (                       )
 

Frequency is determined by ______________________________________

 
 
 

		
How many cycles are shown from dot to dot? ________ 
           (one single vibration)  
 
Ex)  10 cycles pass a fixed point in a wave train in 5 seconds.  
What is the frequency of the wave?                
                           
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ex) A wave generator operating for 4 seconds produces the waves drawn above. 
What is the frequency of this periodic wave train?
 
 
 
How many waves are drawn? _______   (Be careful!!)
 
 
 
f = __________ 
 
 
·  In Sound, frequency determines ________________.
 
·  In Light, frequency determines _____________________.
 
 
The human ear can detect a frequency between_________________________
  
B. Period – ___________________________________given point in a medium
 
                         
 
 
 
C. Amplitude – _____________________________________ during a single vibration
 
determined by ___________________________
 
Ex) Compare waves A & B
 
 
 

		
1.     _______________ of a wave shows the amount of __________ in the wave         
a.  Amplitude is a measure of __________________
        
         
 
 
 
D.   Phase
 
 
 
 
"In Phase" – points on a single periodic wave that has the _________________________ from the 

equilibrium position, and moving in the ___________________
 
_______________ number of wavelengths apart
 
A & ____   A & ____        A & ___ B & ___ B & ___
 
Out of Phase "– (________) _________ displacement from equilibrium position but going 

in a ___________direction