Define the term wave. Explain it with the help of an example. Differentiate between mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter. Waves can travel through different mediums, or in some cases, even through empty space.

Example: When a stone is dropped into a still pond, circular ripples spread outward. These ripples represent waves carrying energy across the surface of the water, but the water itself does not move away—it only oscillates up and down.

Types of Waves:

  1. Mechanical Waves: These waves require a medium (such as air, water, or solid materials) to propagate. They cannot travel through a vacuum.
    Examples: Sound waves, water waves, and seismic waves.
  2. Electromagnetic Waves: These waves do not require a medium and can travel through a vacuum at the speed of light. Examples: Light waves, radio waves, X-rays, and microwaves.

Related Questions:

  1. What do you mean by oscillation? Define simple harmonic motion. What are the conditions for a body to perform SHM? Give examples of bodies that perform SHM.
  2. Show that a vibrating mass-spring system performs simple harmonic motion. What is its time period? On what factors does it depend?
  3. Explain the following terms for SHM: Vibration, amplitude, time period, frequency.
  4. Explain that a steel ball dropped from the edge of a shining bowl performs SHM.
  5. What is a simple pendulum? Show that a vibrating simple pendulum performs SHM. What is the formula for the time period of a simple pendulum? On what factors does it depend?
  6. Explain the process of damping. Differentiate between damped and undamped oscillations.
  7. Define transverse waves. Discuss its motion with the help of an example. Also define the following terms for transverse waves: Crest, Trough, Wavelength, Frequency, and Time Period.
  8. Define longitudinal waves. Discuss its motion with the help of an example. Also define the following terms for longitudinal waves: Rarefaction, Compression, Wavelength.
  9. Derive the formula for the speed of waves () relating speed, frequency, and wavelength.
  10. Show that frequency and time period of waves are inverse of each other.
  11. What is a ripple tank? Describe its construction and working. Use a ripple tank to study reflection, refraction, and diffraction of water waves.
  12. Simple harmonic motion and waves
  13. Simple harmonic motion and waves-NFE
  14. Why do water waves refract at the boundary of shallow water and deep water in a ripple tank experiment?
  15. Under what conditions are waves diffracted the most?
  16. Why does the acceleration of a simple pendulum increase as it moves away from the equilibrium position?
  17. What is the difference between frequency and time period of a wave?
  18. Why does a simple pendulum have a longer time period on the Moon than on Earth?
  19. How does damping affect oscillatory motion?
  20. What is the significance of wave speed in a medium?