July 16, 2012

Today we started off class with a discussion of our new lessons on simple harmonic motion:

Periodic Motion: repeats itself in a pattern

-frequency[squiggly f] measured in hertz[Hz] = #cycles/seconds
-Period[T] = #seconds/1 cycle

New equations:
f = 1/T
T[pendulum] 2(pi)[sq root of l/g]

Graphs for periodic motion are always sine waves

V = Wf
Velocity = wavelength x frequency
Next, we went onto our labin which we experimented with the cycles and periods of pendulums, and experimented with the frequency of water.

Waves:
A wave is a transfer of energy
Two types of waves:
Transverse wave: medium oscillates up and down, wave moves perpendicular
Longitudinal wave: medium + wave move in same direction

Constructive interference: where two waves collide and form 1 giant wave
Destructive interference: where two waves collide and cancel each other out.

RWC:
Whenever you're down at the beach watching the waves, you can often see both constructive and destructive interference occur where waves collide and form different shapes and sizes