properties and types of waves

Waves

One of the ways in which energy may be transferred between stores without transferring matter

Oscillations

Repeated and regular fluctuations above and below a fixed point

Vibrations

Repeated forwards and backwards movement about a fixed point

Longitudinal wave

A wave in which the vibrations or oscillations are parallel to the direction of wave travel

Compression

A region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are closest together

Rarefaction

A region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are furthest apart

Examples of longitudinal waves

Sound, ultrasound, seismic P-waves

Transverse wave

A wave in which the vibrations or oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel

Examples of transverse waves

Water waves, vibrations along a string, Mexican wave, electromagnetic waves (light waves, microwaves, radio waves etc), seismic S-waves

Mechanical waves

Cause the particles in a solid, liquid or gas to oscillate and need medium to travel through

Electromagnetic waves

Cause electrical and magnetic fields to oscillate

Rest position

The position of particles or fields when they are not vibrating

Displacement

The distance that a point of a wave has moved from its rest position

Amplitude (a)

The maximum displacement of a point of a wave from its rest position

Peak or crest

The largest displacement of a point of a wave above the rest position

Trough

The largest displacement of a point of a wave below the rest position

Wavelength (λ)

The distance covered by a full cycle of the wave