wave velocity

wave velocity

 distance traversed by a periodic, or cyclic, motion per unit time (in any direction). Wave velocity in common usage refers to speed, although, properly, velocity implies both speed and direction. The velocity of a wave is equal to the product of its wavelength and frequency (number of vibrations per second) and is independent of its intensity.

      If a point vibrates within a rigid solid, both transverse waves (those with points oscillating at right angles to the direction of their advance) and longitudinal waves (those with points vibrating the same direction as their advance) of the same frequency are sent out, and, because the longitudinal waves happen to have longer wavelengths, they will move faster. Thus, seismic waves (seismic wave), being composed of both longitudinal waves (longitudinal wave) (P, primary) and transverse waves (S, secondary), move with two velocities through the Earth.

      Longitudinal waves, such as sound, are transmitted through media with velocities depending on the density and elasticity of the substance. Sound has a velocity of about 0.33 km per second (0.2 mile per second) in air, 1.5 km per second in water, and 5 km per second in steel. All sound waves travel with the same speed in air regardless of their frequency. The velocity of light in vacuo is also independent of frequency; in a transparent medium, however, the velocity of light depends on the effect of dispersion in the material, varying slightly more than 1 percent from blue to red.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wave velocity — is a wave property, which may refer to: *phase velocity, the velocity at which a wave phase propagates at a certain frequency *group velocity, the propagation velocity for the envelope of wave groups and often of wave energy, different from the… …   Wikipedia

  • wave velocity — bangos greitis statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Bangos nueitas kelias per laiko vienetą. atitikmenys: angl. wave celerity; wave velocity vok. Fortschrittgeschwindigkeit, f; Fortschrittgeschwindigkeit der Wellen, f;… …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • wave velocity — The speed at which a wave form advances across the sea, usually expressed in knots. See also wave …   Military dictionary

  • wave velocity — noun : phase velocity …   Useful english dictionary

  • shock wave velocity — smūginės bangos sklidimo greitis statusas T sritis radioelektronika atitikmenys: angl. shock wave velocity vok. Stoßwellenausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit, f rus. скорость распространения ударной волны, f pranc. vitesse d onde de choc, f …   Radioelektronikos terminų žodynas

  • Wave propagation — is any of the ways in which waves travel through a waveguide.With respect to the direction of the oscillation relative to the propagation direction, we can distinguish between longitudinal wave and transverse waves.For electromagnetic waves,… …   Wikipedia

  • Wave equation — Not to be confused with Wave function. The wave equation is an important second order linear partial differential equation for the description of waves – as they occur in physics – such as sound waves, light waves and water waves. It arises in… …   Wikipedia

  • wave celerity — bangos greitis statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Bangos nueitas kelias per laiko vienetą. atitikmenys: angl. wave celerity; wave velocity vok. Fortschrittgeschwindigkeit, f; Fortschrittgeschwindigkeit der Wellen, f;… …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • Wave field synthesis — (WFS) is a spatial audio rendering technique, characterized by creation of virtual acoustic environments. It produces artificial wave fronts synthesized by a large number of individually driven speakers. Such wave fronts seem to originate from a… …   Wikipedia

  • thermal wave velocity — Смотри скорость тепловой волны …   Энциклопедический словарь по металлургии

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”