The Physics of Vibrations and Waves

Waves are everywhere: sound, light, water, and even earthquakes! Simple harmonic motion (SHM) describes repetitive back-and-forth movements, like a swinging pendulum.

What is a Wave?

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy through a medium or space. Key properties include:

• Amplitude: Height of the wave.
• Wavelength (\( \lambda \)): Distance between crests.
• Frequency (\( f \)): How many cycles per second.

The wave speed equation: \[ v = f \lambda \]

Simple Harmonic Motion

SHM is the motion of an object that repeats itself in a regular cycle, like a mass on a spring.

• Restoring force always points toward equilibrium.
• Period and frequency depend only on mass and spring constant (or pendulum length).

Why It Matters

SHM explains clocks, musical instruments, and even the structure of atoms!