progressive waves

what do progressive wave transfer

energy without transferring material

what is amplitude

A wave’s maximum displacement from the equilibrium position (units are m

what is frequency

The number of complete oscillations passing through a point per second, (units are Hz)

what is wavelength

The length of one whole oscillation (e.g. the distance between successive peaks/troughs) (units are m)

what is speed

Distance travelled by the wave per unit time, (units are m/s)

what is phase

The position of a certain point on a wave cycle, (units are radians, degrees or fractions of a cycle)

what is phase difference

How much a particle/wave lags behind another particle/wave, (units are radians, degrees or fractions of a cycle)

what is period

Time taken for one full oscillation, (units are s)

when are two points in phase

they are both at the same point of the wave cycle

when waves are in phase, what will have

• same displacement and velocity

• their phase difference will be a multiple of 360°

when are two points completely out of phase

they’re an odd integer of half cycles apart

what is the equation of speed of a wave

c = fλ

what is the equation of the frequency of a wave

f = 1/T