PS 3.1 Wave Basics and Energy

wave

a disturbance that transfers energy from place to place

electromagnetic wave

a wave that can move through matter or empty space (light wave)

mechanical wave

a wave that can travel only through matter. (sound wave)

medium

type of matter a wave travels through (solid, liquid, gas) changes the speed of a wave

transmit

to send on, pass along, send out

Crest

Top point of a wave

Trough

Lowest point of a wave

Amplitude

the height of a wave measured from the middle to the top of the wave -higher waves mean more energy

frequency

How many wave crests that pass a certain point in one second

More frequency - more energy

transverse wave

The wave particles move perpendicular (up and down) to the direction the energy is moving - light waves

longitudinal wave

The wave particles move parallel or in the same direction as the energy is moving - sound waves

Relationship between amplitude and energy

More energy = higher amplitude; less energy = lower amplitude

Relationship between frequency and energy

The more frequency the more energy- directly proportional

Resting Position

the middle of a wave - equilibrium line