Physics Equations “Waves” Mcat

Waves

V(wave) = (frequency)(wavelength)
**frequency is measured in hertz or cycles/second**

The period of a wave is the time required for one up and down cycle: On an x-axis of time, it is the point from any point of the wave function, to that exact point where the wave function has repeated itself
**T = (1/frequency)**

Intensity

Is measured in decibels — β = 10log(I/Ii)
**Note that for every factor of 10 that intensity increases, the decibels increase an additional 10 decibels**

beats
Beats occur when two waves of slightly different frequencies are superimposed. The beat frequncy produced will be the difference between the frequencies of the two original waves:

f(beat) = |f1 - f2|

Doppler Effect

fo = fs [(1)/(1 - v(s)/v)]
**This is for a source (s) moving towards a stationary observer**
**fo stands for the frequency head by the observer**
**v(s) is the speed of object the source is coming from while v is the speed of sounds (340 m/s)**

fo = fs [(1) / (1+v(s)/v) ]
**for a source moving away from an observer**