1-42The LONGITUDINAL WAVE is another type of wave motion. The sound wave is the onlyexample of a longitudinal wave given in this text.SOURCE, MEDIUM, AND DETECTOR (RECEIVER)are the three requirements for all wavemotion.A SOURCE can be anything that emits or expends energy (waves).The MEDIUM is the vehicle for carrying waves from one point to another. Water, air, metal, emptyspace, etc., are examples of a medium. Empty space is considered a medium for electro-magnetic wavesbut not a medium for sound waves.The SOUND DETECTOR absorbs the waves emitted by the source. The human ear is an exampleof a detector.HERTZ, which is abbreviated Hz, is used in lieu of "cycle per second" when referring to radiofrequencies.VELOCITY OF PROPAGATIONis the speed (or rate) at which the crest of a wave movesthrough a medium. Velocity can be calculated by using the formula:9 I:KHUH Y LV YHORFLW\ RI SURSDJDWLRQ DQG LV H[SUHVVHG LQ IHHW PHWHUV SHU VHFRQG LV WKH ZDYHOHQJWKin feet (meters), and f is the frequency in hertz.REFLECTIONoccurs when a wave strikes an object and bounces back (toward the source). Thewave that moves from the source to the object is called the INCIDENT WAVE, and the wave that movesaway from the object is called the REFLECTED WAVE.
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