general waves properties

define wave

a wave is a propagation of a disturbance which carries energy from one point in space to another without transferring of matter

transverse waves

transverse waves are waves in which the displacement of the particle of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of the direction of energy transfer

longitudinal waves

longitudinal waves are waves in which the displacement of the particles of the medium is parallel to the direction of energy transfer

amplitude

the amplitude of a wave is the magnitude of maximum displacement of the particle from its equilibrium position

wavelength

the wavelength of a wave is the shortest distance between 2 points which are vibrating in phase with one another. it is the shortest distance between 2 peaks or 2 troughs

period

the period of the wave is the time for a particle to complete one cycle of vibration which is also equivalent to the time taken for the wave to travel through a distance equal to its wavelength

how is sound produced

sound is a form of energy produced by the vibration of some objects and propagated as a series of compression and rarefactions of the medium