PHYSICS
Simple Harmonic Motion, Vibrations and Waves
LESSON OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to...
 use appropriate metric units for given measurements
 describe how waves transfer energy differently from the physical transfer of energy
 define the period and frequency of a wave
 recognize mass-spring systems and pendulums and simple harmonic systems
 recognize properties associated with sound waves such as intensity, wavelength and
frequency
 recognize and define properties associated with waves such as interference, refraction
and diffraction
 understand that standing waves of certain lengths can exist in a given system
 distinguish between mechanical and non-mechanical waves
 distinguish between longitudinal and transverse waves
 identify musical components of sound, such as pitch and frequency
SKILLS
Students will be able to...
 use steps for solving physics problems
 relate the period of a simple pendulum to its length
 relate the frequency of a wave to the mass and the spring constant
 produce and identify the characteristic parts of transverse and longitudinal waves with a
slinky
 solve problems involving frequency, wavelength, amplitude and speed of a wave
 label the parts transverse and longitudinal waves
 model the properties of waves in a sketch that describe interference, refraction, and
diffraction
 collect and display data
 conduct experiments using harmonic systems and waves
VOCABULARY
simple harmonic motion
period
wave
frequency
medium
wave speed
mechanical wave
Doppler effect
electromagnetic wave
reflection
transverse wave
diffraction
longitudinal wave
refraction
crest
interference
trough
constructive interference
amplitude
destructive interference
wavelength
standing wave
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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
Lesson 1: Vibrations
#1. Vibrational Motion, reading
#2. Properties of Periodic Motion, reading
#3. Pendulum Motion, reading
#4. Motion of a Mass on a Spring, reading
Lesson 2: The Nature of a Wave
#5. Waves and Wavelike Motion, reading
#6. What is a Wave?, reading and homework pages 1-2
#7. Categories of Waves, reading
Lesson 3: Properties of a Wave
#8. The Anatomy of a Wave, reading and homework pages 3-4
#9. Frequency and Period of a Wave, reading
#10. Energy Transport and the Amplitude of a Wave, reading
#11. The Speed of a Wave, reading and homework pages 5-6
#12. The Wave Equation, reading
Lesson 4: Behavior of Waves
#13. Boundary Behavior, reading and homework pages 7-8
#14. Reflection, Refraction, and Diffraction, reading
#15. Interference of Waves, reading and homework pages 9-10
#16. The Doppler Effect, reading
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CONTENT OUTLINE
I: The Nature of a Wave
A. Vibrations and harmonic motion
1. defining vibration and harmonic motion
2. measuring harmonic motion
a. period
b. frequency
B. Defining a wave
C. Categories of Waves
1. based on motion
a. longitudinal
b. transverse
2. mechanical
3. non mechanical (electromagnetic)
II: Properties of a Wave
A. Parts of a Wave
1. longitudinal
a. compression
b. rarefaction
c. amplitude
d. wavelength
2. transverse
a. crest
b. trough
c. amplitude
d. wavelength
B. Wave Motion and the Wave Equation
1. speed
2. frequency
3. period
III: Behavior of Waves
A. Boundary Behavior
1. reflection
2. diffraction
3. refraction
B. Wave Interaction
1. constructive interference
2. destructive interference
C. Motion (The Doppler Effect)
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Calculations
 If the frequency of a wave is 0.125 Hz, how long does it take one wave to pass a given
point?
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
If a given wave is 4 meters long and has a frequency of 0.1 Hz, what is the speed of the
wave?

A particular longitudinal wave has a speed of 340 m/s. If the wavelength is 7 m, what is the
frequency?

Given a speed of 1250 m/s and a frequency of 16 waves per second, what is the
wavelength?

If light travels 3 x 108 m/s with a wavelength of 700 nm, the light is violet. What is the
frequency of violet light?

Suppose you tie one end of a rope to a door knob and shake the other end with a
frequency of 2 Hz. The wave you create has a wavelength of 3 m. What is the speed of the
waves along the rope?

Ocean wave are hitting a beach at a rate of 2.0 Hz. The distance between wave crests is
12m. Calculate the speed of the wave.

All electromagnetic waves have the same speed in empty space (3.0 x 108 m/s). Calculate
the wavelength give the following frequencies:
a. radio waves that travel at 660 kHz.
b. X rays at 3.0 x 1018 Hz
c. visible light at 6.0 x 1014 Hz

Microwaves range in wavelength from 1mm to 3 cm. Calculate their range of frequcney.
Remember, all electromagnetic radiation has a speed of ___________________.
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
What is the frequency of a wave if you tap your finger in a pool of water twice each
second?

If the waves from above travel away from your finger with a speed of 1 m/s, what is their
wavelength?

A musical note A above middle C has a frequency of 440 Hz. If the speed of sound is 350
m/s, what is the wavelength of this note?

A buoy bobs up and down in the ocean. The waves have a wavelength of 2.5 m, and they
pass the buoy at a speed of 4.0 m/s. What is the frequency and period of the waves?

Waves in a lake are 6 m apart and pass a person on a raft every 2 s. What is the speed of
the wave?

A wave with a frequency of 60.0 Hz travels through vulcanized rubber with a wavelength of
0.90 m. What is the speed of this wave?
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