Waves Complete V8.0.11-AiR UPDATED
Mechanical waves are classified as longitudinal waves and transverse waves. Some examples of longitudinal waves are sound waves, seismic P-waves, and ultrasound waves. Transverse waves examples include electromagnetic waves and ocean waves. In this article, we will learn what is a longitudinal wave and its characteristics.
Waves Complete v8.0.11-AiR
The distance between the centres of two consecutive regions of compression or the rarefaction is defined by wavelength, λ. When the compression and rarefaction regions of two waves coincide with each other, it is known as constructive interference and if the regions of compression and rarefaction do not coincide, it is known as destructive interference.
A sound wave is an example of a longitudinal wave and is produced by the vibrating motion of the particles that travel through a conductive medium. An example of sound waves in a longitudinal direction is the tuning fork.
In Sound waves, the amplitude of the wave is the difference between the maximum pressure caused by the wave and the pressure of the undisturbed air. The propagation speed of sound depends upon the type, composition of the medium, and temperature through which it propagates.
A longitudinal wave is a type of wave that travels in the direction of the medium, but a transverse wave is another type of wave that travels in the direction of the medium. Longitudinal waves are made of compressions and rarefactions, while transverse waves are made of crests and troughs.
The term "acoustic resonance" is sometimes used to narrow mechanical resonance to the frequency range of human hearing, but since acoustics is defined in general terms concerning vibrational waves in matter,[1] acoustic resonance can occur at frequencies outside the range of human hearing.
Any cylinder resonates at multiple frequencies, producing multiple musical pitches. The lowest frequency is called the fundamental frequency or the first harmonic. Cylinders used as musical instruments are generally open, either at both ends, like a flute, or at one end, like some organ pipes. However, a cylinder closed at both ends can also be used to create or visualize sound waves, as in a Rubens Tube.
The physics of a pipe open at both ends are explained in Physics Classroom. Note that the diagrams in this reference show displacement waves, similar to the ones shown above. These stand in sharp contrast to the pressure waves shown near the end of the present article.
leading to resonant frequencies approximately equal to those of an open cylinder whose length equals L + x. In words, a complete conical pipe behaves approximately like an open cylindrical pipe of the same length, and to first order the behavior does not change if the complete cone is replaced by a closed frustum of that cone.
Sound waves in a rectangular box include such examples as loudspeaker enclosures and buildings. Rectangular buildings have resonances described as room modes. For a rectangular box, the resonant frequencies are given by[5] 350c69d7ab