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- We are all aware of the ripples created on the surface of water when a stone is dropped in it.
- We are all aware of the ripples created on the surface of water when a stone is dropped in it.
- The water molecules oscillate up and down around their equilibrium positions but they do not move from one point to another along the surface of water.
- The water molecules oscillate up and down around their equilibrium positions but they do not move from one point to another along the surface of water.
- The disturbance created by dropping the stone, however travels outwards.
- The disturbance created by dropping the stone, however travels outwards.
- This type of wave is a periodic and regular disturbance in a medium which does not cause any flow of material but causes the flow of energy and momentum from one point to another.
- This type of wave is a periodic and regular disturbance in a medium which does not cause any flow of material but causes the flow of energy and momentum from one point to another.
- There are different types of waves and not all types require material medium to travel through.
- There are different types of waves and not all types require material medium to travel through.
- We know that light is a type of wave and it can travel through vacuum.
- We know that light is a type of wave and it can travel through vacuum.
- Here we will first study different types of waves, learn about their common properties and then study sound waves in particular.
- Here we will first study different types of waves, learn about their common properties and then study sound waves in particular.
Types of waves
Types of waves
(i) Mechanical waves:
(i) Mechanical waves:
A wave is said to be mechanical if a material medium is essential for its propagation.
A wave is said to be mechanical if a material medium is essential for its propagation.
Examples of these types of waves are water waves, waves along a stretched string, seismic waves, sound waves, etc.
Examples of these types of waves are water waves, waves along a stretched string, seismic waves, sound waves, etc.
(ii) EM waves:
(ii) EM waves:
These are generated due to periodic vibrations in electric and magnetic fields.
These are generated due to periodic vibrations in electric and magnetic fields.
These waves can propagate through material media, however, material medium is not essential for their propagation.
These waves can propagate through material media, however, material medium is not essential for their propagation.
(iii) Matter waves:
(iii) Matter waves:
There is always a wave associated with any object if it is in motion.
There is always a wave associated with any object if it is in motion.
Such waves are matter waves.
Such waves are matter waves.
These are studied in quantum mechanics.
These are studied in quantum mechanics.
Travelling or progressive waves are waves in which a disturbance created at one place travels to distant points and keeps travelling unless stopped by some external agencies.
Travelling or progressive waves are waves in which a disturbance created at one place travels to distant points and keeps travelling unless stopped by some external agencies.
- In such types of waves energy gets transferred from one point to another.
- In such types of waves energy gets transferred from one point to another.
- Water waves mentioned above are travelling waves.
- Water waves mentioned above are travelling waves.
- They keep travelling outward from the point where stone was dropped until they are stopped by walls of the container or the boundary of the water body.
- They keep travelling outward from the point where stone was dropped until they are stopped by walls of the container or the boundary of the water body.
- Other type of waves are stationary waves about which we will learn in XIIth standard.
- Other type of waves are stationary waves about which we will learn in XIIth standard.
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