Wave Characteristics
Time-Period (T): Time taken for one complete oscillation. Its SI unit is second (s).
Frequency (f): Number of complete waves produced per unit time. Frequency is also the reciprocal of the time-period (f=1/T). Its SI unit is hertz (Hz).
Wavelength (λ): The linear distance between two successive crests or troughs in a transverse wave. For a longitudinal wave, it’s the distance between successive compressions or rarefactions. Its SI unit is meter (m).
Wave Speed (v): The speed a wave travels, defined as the distance traveled by a given point on the wave in a given time. Wave speed is calculated as distance divided by time.
- The formula is v=S/t.
- For one wave, distance traveled (S) is the wavelength (λ) and time taken (t) is the time-period (T), so v=λ/T.
- Since f=1/T, the wave speed can also be written as v=fλ.
- The SI unit for wave speed is meters per second (m/s).
Wavefront: An imaginary line on a wave that connects all points that are in the same phase.
- A wavefront is usually drawn by connecting all wave crests.
- There are three types of wavefronts: circular, plane, and spherical. The images provided only mention circular and plane wavefronts produced in a ripple tank.