Oscillations and mechanical waves

This course is a part of Physics, a 20-course Topic series from Khan Academy.

Waves are responsible for basically every form of communication we use. Whether you're talking out loud, texting on your phone, or waving to someone in a crowd there's going to be a wave transmitting information. Learn about the basics of waves in this topic, then learn more about light waves in the topics below.

This course contains 6 segments:

Simple harmonic motion

Ever watch a slinky gyrate back and forth. This is harmonic motion (a special class of oscillatory motion). In this tutorial we'll see how we can model and deal with this type of phenomena.

Simple harmonic motion (with calculus)

In these videos Sal explores how to deal with simple harmonic motion when using calculus.

Introduction to mechanical waves

In these videos and articles you'll learn the definition of a wave and the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves. You'll also learn the definition of the basic terms used to characterize waves; amplitude, period, frequency, and wavelength.

Sound

In these videos and articles you'll see visualizations of the propagation of sound waves, along with a visual definition of a sound wave's amplitude, period, frequency, and wavelength. You'll also learn how the speed of sound depends on the different characteristics of the medium. It will be shown how Mach numbers characterize faster than sound travel and their relationship to sonic booms. Also, you'll learn about the decibel scale, why sounds get softer, and how ultrasound medical imaging works.

The Doppler effect

In these videos and articles you'll learn how the Doppler effect causes a change in the measured frequency of a moving source of sound or moving sound detector. You'll also learn how to calculate the observed frequency using the formula for the Doppler effect when dealing with either a moving source of sound or a moving sound detector.

Wave interference

In these videos and articles you'll learn how standing waves are produced and how to determine the wavelength and frequency of the different harmonics of standing waves produced in an open open tube or an open closed tube.