Chp 11 General Waves Properties I : Introduction

Wave

A disturbance that propagates through space, transferring energy with it but not matter

Transverse wave

A transverse wave has a direction of vibration that is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel

Longitudinal wave

A longitudinal wave has a direction of vibration that is parallel to the direction of wave travel

Period, T

Time taken by each point on the wage to complete one oscillation (SI unit: seconds)

Frequency f

The number of oscillations each point completes per second (SI unit: hertz)

Wavelength

Shortest distance between two successive crest or troughs (SI unit: metre)

Wave speed , v

The distance travelled by wave per second (m/s)

Wavefronts

An imaginary line joining all adjacent points that are in phase

Displacement

Vector pointing from its rest position to the point

Amplitude

Maximum magnitude of displacement from its rest position

Crests

Highest points of a transverse wave

Troughs

Lowest point of a transverse wave

In phase

Describes two point on a wave that always have the same direction of motion

Wavelength

Shortest distance between two successive crests or troughs