gensci5

wave

is a transfer of energy through a medium from one point to another

sound, water, light waves

Waves can be observed in different forms such as

transverse

a wave that vibrates perpendicularly to the direction it travels; it has an up-and-down motion

rest position

the broken line which is drawn through the center of the diagram

crest

is the highest point of a wave

trough

is the lowest point of a wave

longitudinal

a wave that vibrates parallel to the direction it travels, moving back and forth.

compression

is a point where the coils are close together

rarefaction

where the coils are spread out

surface waves

combination of transverse and longitudinal waves. These move in a circular pattern as the waves pass by

Mechanical waves

propagate only through solid, liquid and gas medium, may be transverse, longitudinal or surface

Electromagnetic waves

do not need medium to propagate, examples are xray, ultraviolet, microwaves

Wavelength

the distance from crest to next crest or from a trough to next trough

Amplitude

the distance from the rest position to crest or trough

Period

is the time to make one complete cycle(sec)

Frequency

refers to the number of crests or waves that pass a fixed point per second (Hz). Named after German Physicist Heinrich Hertz

Wave speed

is equal to the wavelength multiplied by its frequency.