Frequently Asked Questions
A wave is a disturbance that propagates through a medium or space and transfers energy without causing any permanent displacement of matter.
Wave motion is the propagation of oscillations from one point to another in a medium due to restoring forces and inertia of particles.
No, wave motion involves transfer of energy only; particles oscillate about their mean positions.
Mechanical waves are waves that require a material medium for propagation, such as sound waves and water waves.
Non-mechanical waves do not require a material medium and can propagate through vacuum, for example electromagnetic waves.
Transverse waves are waves in which particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
Waves on a stretched string, ripples on the surface of water, and electromagnetic waves are examples.
Longitudinal waves are waves in which particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
Sound waves in air and compression waves in solids are examples of longitudinal waves.
Wavelength is the distance between two successive points in the same phase of vibration, such as consecutive crests or compressions.
The SI unit of wavelength is metre (m).
Frequency is the number of complete oscillations made by a particle of the medium per second.
The SI unit of frequency is hertz (Hz).
Time period is the time taken by a particle of the medium to complete one full oscillation.
Frequency is the reciprocal of time period, given by \( f = \frac{1}{T} \).