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3.2 Particle vs. Wave Motion

Pre-Lecture Reading 3.2

Video Lecture

•
Particle vs. Wave Motion (13:34)

Supplementary Notes

Particles

•
See Particles.
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Carry energy and information
•
Do not require a medium

Waves

•
See Waves.
•
Carry energy and information
•
Do require a medium

Wave Properties

Wavelength (λ—Greek letter "lambda")

•
Distance from wave crest to wave crest (or from wave trough to wave trough)
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MKS unit: meter (m)

Period (P)

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Time for wave to cycle once (or for wave pattern to move one wavelength)
•
MKS unit: second (s)

Frequency (ν—Greek letter "nu")

•
Number of wave cycles per unit time

( 1 )

ν =

1

P

•
MKS unit: Hertz
(Hz = s⁻¹)

Energy (E)

( 2 )

E ∝ ν

Example:
If you double a wave's frequency, you double its energy.

Wave Speed (v)

( 3 )

v =

distance

time

( 4 )

v =

λ

P

( 5 )

v = λ × ν