Wave GraphsWaves may be graphed as a function of time or distance. A single frequency wave will appear as a sine wave in either case. From the distance graph the wavelength may be determined. From the time graph, the period and frequency can be obtained. From both together, the wave speed can be determined.
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Index Traveling wave concepts | ||||
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Traveling WavesElasticity and a source of energy are the preconditions for periodic motion, and when the elastic object is an extended body, then the periodic motion takes the form of traveling waves.
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Waves on a Pond
The form of the dependence of the traveling wave parameters upon each other is a consequence of the basic motion equation and the definitions of the the terms which describe periodic motion. The description of water waves above is greatly oversimplified to demonstrate the nature of sinusoidal transverse waves. Waves on the ocean are much more complex, involving a circulation of the water as the wave passes so that the actual water motion is not just simple harmonic motion.
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