SCI206 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Transverse Wave, Longitudinal Wave, Sound
12 Oct 2013
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Document Summary
It is a bump that travels along a string. It has a defined direction and has the ability to be reflected off the ends of the string. It does not cause the string itself to move - it only causes sections of the string to be displaced vertically. Identify the following features of a transverse wave: amplitude, node, antinode, velocity, and wavelength: a transverse wave is one where the displacement created is vertical. Explain how longitudinal waves work: longitudinal waves are those where the displacement is longitudinal - i. e. along the length of the wave. It is a series of compressions and stretches (aka rarefactions) Discuss how sound is a longitudinal wave. Recall the demo where a bell in a vacuum was rung, and no sound was heard. Frequency does not change, and so wavelength does - thus the sound we hear is different. Give an example of a wave traveling through different mediums.
