Basic Waves

Following are the Basic types of waves:

1. Sine waves
2. Square and rectangular waves
3. Sawtooth and triangle waves
4. Step and pulse shapes
5. Complex waves

Sine waves are the most commonly known wave shape. Most AC power sources produce sine waves. The sine wave is the result of a basic mathematical function. Graphing a sine curve through 360 degrees will  produce a definitive sine wave image. The power switches at homes deliver power in the form of sine waves. In classrooms, while teaching about waves, teachers usually give examples of sine waves and use them for demonstration. Square and rectangular waves are at the heart of all digital electronics. A square wave is a voltage that switches between two fixed voltage levels at equal intervals, used for testing amplifiers. A rectangular wave has switching characteristics similar to those of a square wave, except that its high and low time intervals are not of equal length. Sawtooth and triangle waves look very much like the geometric shapes they are named for. The triangle wave has a symmetrical rise and fall times while the sawtooth ramps up slowly and evenly to a peak in each cycle, then falls off quickly.They are used to control other voltages in systems. A step wave shows a sudden change in voltage, as if a power switch had been turned on. The pulse is related to the rectangular wave.It is produced by switching up and then down, or down and then up, between two fixed voltage levels. A pulse may represent one bit of information traveling through a computer. A collection of pulses traveling together creates a pulse train. Complex waveforms may include elements of
sines, squares, steps, and pulses. In real life, waves rarely look like the examples in the graphics that we see here.