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Superposition of Waves

wave

A wave is a disturbance that travels or propagates from the place where it was created.

Parts of a Wave (Characteristics)

Crest : a point on a surface wave where the medium’s displacement is greatest.

Trough : A trough is the inverse of a crest, meaning it is the smallest or lowest point of a cycle.

Maxima: It is the point where two crests or troughs of two different wavefronts meet.

Minima: It is the point where a crest and a trough of two different wavefronts meet.

The wavelength (λ) : the distance between two successive maxima (“peaks”) or minima (“ta point on a surface wave where the medium’s displacement is greatest.roughs”) in the wave.

λ = v/f

The amplitude (A): the maximal distance that a particle in the medium is displaced from its equilibrium position.

The velocity (v) : the velocity with which the disturbance propagates through the medium.

The period (T) : the time it takes for two successive maxima (or minima) to pass through the same point in the medium.

The frequency (f) : the inverse of the period

f=1/T

Types of Waves

Mechanical waves

Medium : Required

When molecules in the medium collide and exchange energy, these waves travel.

Examples : Water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves

Types of Mechanical waves

Transverse Waves

The disturbance moves perpendicular to the waves direction.

Consider the wave flowing from left to right, while the disturbance goes up and down.

Example:

water wave: the water flows up and down as the wave goes across the ocean.

Light

Longitudinal waves

A disturbance that moves in the same direction as the wave.

A wave travelling through a stretched-out slinky or spring is an illustration of this. The wave will flow left to right if you compress one end of the slinky and then let go. At the same time, the disturbance (movement of the coils of the springs) will shift from left to right.

Example:

Sound waves: travel across a medium, molecules smash with one another in the same direction as the sound.

Electromagnetic waves

Medium: Not required

Electromagnetic radiation is energy type that charged particles discharge and absorb.

In Space:

When radiations travel through space, they exhibit wave-like behaviour.

Characteristics:

The magnetic and an electric field that are orthogonal to each other and to the wave’s propagation.

These radiations are made up of several types of waves with varying frequencies and wavelengths, which are characterized using the electromagnetic spectrum.

Waves& frequency classification:

based on their uses, wave qualities, and applications.

Examples:

Visible light, microwaves, radio waves, gamma rays, ultraviolet rays, infrared waves and X-rays

Types of Electromagnetic waves