Energy of a Wave: Amplitude vs Frequency

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The energy of a wave is primarily related to its amplitude, not its frequency, particularly in mechanical waves. A larger amplitude results in greater potential energy, as illustrated by the example of a swinging rope. However, frequency does play a role in the energy of electromagnetic waves, as evidenced by the photoelectric effect, where higher frequency light is required to eject electrons. The distinction between mechanical and electromagnetic waves is crucial, as the energy per unit time transmitted by a wave can vary based on the type of wave and the medium involved.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of wave mechanics, including amplitude and frequency
  • Familiarity with the photoelectric effect and its implications
  • Knowledge of electromagnetic waves versus mechanical waves
  • Basic concepts of energy transmission in physical systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the relationship between amplitude and energy in mechanical waves
  • Study the photoelectric effect and its dependence on light frequency
  • Explore the differences between energy transmission in electromagnetic and mechanical waves
  • Learn about wave energy calculations and their applications in physics
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching wave mechanics, and anyone interested in the principles of energy transmission in different types of waves.

Lyakhnitskiy Dmitriy
Messages
2
Reaction score
2
I need help with this question. The energy of wave related to its amplitude but not to frequency. If we talk about wave as disturbance carring energy we can imagine a swinging rope that gives potential energy to body by pushing it up. Bigger amplitude means getting high and increasing Potential energy of the body.
But bigger frequency means bigger amount of pushing the body up So the wave carries more energy.

P.S. Sorry for my bad English
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Lyakhnitskiy Dmitriy said:
The energy of wave related to its amplitude but not to frequency.
That depends on the type of wave, what you define as amplitude and the way you treat other parameters. Which wave do you mean and what is held constant?
 
mfb said:
That depends on the type of wave, what you define as amplitude and the way you treat other parameters. Which wave do you mean and what is held constant?
Amplitude is the biggest inclination from equilibrium position, I guess. Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating disturbance per unit of time. The thing is I got information about independency of energy of machenic wawe regarding to its frequency and wavelength from Khan Academy "Since the mediums are the same, we can focus on the wave energy increasing with the wave amplitude; not the frequency, wavelength or wave shape." But then I recognized photo effect when electrons need light of high frequency to be photo electrons. Electrons need more energy to be extricated from atom so is there depending between frequency and energy?
 
Lyakhnitskiy Dmitriy said:
The energy of wave related to its amplitude but not to frequency.
The usual meaning for "the engergy of a wave" would be the "energy per unit time" it transmits. Perhaps you saw the statement that this energy does not depend on the frequency of wave in the context of electromagnetic waves.

In mechanical waves, the frequency matters. For example, http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys207/lectures/waves/wave_energy.html

Perhaps somebody can comment of whether this distinction between E&M versus mechanical waves is due to the absence of a material medium for E&M waves or whtether it is due to using two different definitions for "the energy of a wave".
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Lyakhnitskiy Dmitriy

Similar threads

  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
6K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K