Lesson Plan

Define amplitude, frequency, period, wavelength, and wave velocity as they apply to a wave

Relate frequency and period with f = 1/T, and relate wave velocity, wavelength, frequency, and period with v_w = λ/T = fλ

Explain why, in a fixed medium, higher frequency means shorter wavelength, and why amplitude is independent of wave speed

Solve numerical problems for wave velocity, wavelength, frequency, or period given the others

13.2

"The wavelength $\lambda$ is the distance between adjacent identical parts of a wave, parallel to the direction of propagation. The wave velocity $v_w$ is the speed at which the disturbance moves." "Since wave frequency is the number of waves per second, and the period is essentially the number of seconds per wave, the relationship between frequency and period is $f = \frac{1}{T}$ or $T = \frac{1}{f}$ ..." "The speed of propagation $v_w$ is the distance the wave travels in a given time, which is one wavelength in a time of one period. In equation form, it is written as $v_w = \frac{\lambda}{T}$ or $v_w = f\lambda$." "The amplitude $X$ is completely independent of the speed of propagation $v_w$ and depends only on the amount of energy in the wave." "Calculate the wave velocity of the ocean wave ... if the distance between wave crests is 10.0 m and the time for a seagull to bob up and down is 5.00 s. ... $v_w = \frac{10.0 \text{ m}}{5.00 \text{ s}} = 2.00 \text{ m/s}$."