snseo18 wen physics usye.edu aulteach_resthepiu7I7_emchim DO PHYSICS ONLINE ELECTROMAGENTIC WAVES In studying this topic you need to think carefully about and be able to interpret each of the figures shown. Awave describes a mechanism of how energy is transferred from one place to another without any matter being transferred. It is the disturbance that is propagated only. Waves travel with well- defined speeds determined by the properties through which they travel A disturbance ona string (e.g. guitar string) propagates along the string. Figure (1) shows an animation of a pulse travelling along a string. tme t= 00s 05 Eoa 503 3 02 Boa 5 10 15 20 5 30 position x(m) Fig. (1) Animation of a pulse along a string As the pulse propagates, the string moves up or down but the energy in the form of the kinetic energy and potential energy is transferred as shown in figure (2). hitp:iwww physics usyd. edu auiteach_resihsplu7it7_emehtm 6snseo18 wen physics usye.edu aulteach_resthepiu7I7_emchim Os 200| energy flux $ (uis} 0 5 10 15 20 28 30 position x (m) Fig. (2) Animation of the transfer of energy (K.E. + PE.) along a string Important parameters describing a wave are its amplitude A, its wavelength 2, period T, frequency fand speed of propagation v. The period and frequency are the reciprocals of each other 1 fet Tat (1) T f The speed of propagation through a given medium is constant and depends upon its wavelength and frequency (or period) A v= fase (2) i T Figure (3) shows an animation of a sinusoidal wave travelling along a string. Study the animation carefully and before you look at the answers below, determine the amplitude, wavelength, period, frequency and speed of the wave. hitp:iwww physics usyd. edu auiteach_resihsplu7it7_emehtm anesnseo18 wen physics usyd.edu aulteach_restheplu7I7_emchim time t= 00 s 6 e4 sa zB 0 ts 24 ® 25 50 1S postion x(n) Fig. (3) Animation of a sinusoidal wave travelling along 2 string. Notice that it is the shape of the disturbances that advances while parts of the string move up and down, each segment of the strings executing simple harmonic motion. From the animatios amplitude A= 6.0m wavelength 2=25.0m period T= 20.02 frequency f= 0.050 Hz speed v=1.25ms1 A disturbance on water produces water waves. Figure (4) shows a water wave propagating from the left to the right then the wave travels into shallower water and is slowed down which produces a change in direction of propagation. This phenomenon is called refraction hitp:iwww physics usyd. edu auiteach_resihsplu7it7_emehtm 700 ane