• Waves can be represented graphically in two different ways:
  • Wavefronts?- lines joining all the points that oscillate in phase and are perpendicular to the direction of motion (and energy transfer)
  • Rays?- lines showing the direction of motion (and energy transfer) of the wave that are perpendicular to the wavefront

Wavefronts and rays for transverse waves travelling in a horizontal plane

• The distance between successive wavefronts is equal to the?wavelength?of the waves

• Ripple tanks are used a common experiment to demonstrate diffraction of water waves

Wave effects may all be demonstrated using a ripple tank

• The diagram below shows how the wavelengths differ with frequency in a ripple tank
  • The?higher?the frequency, the?shorter?the wavelength
  • The?lower?the frequency, the?longer?the wavelength

Ripple tank patterns for low and high frequency vibration