topic 4- waves

Describe waves.

Waves transfer energy and information without transferring matter.

What is evidence for this?

Evidence of this for a water wave can be seen when a ball dropped into a pond bobs up and down, but the wave energy Travels outward as ripples across the surface of the pool.

What is frequency?

the number of waves passing a point each second, measured in hertz (Hz)

What is speed?

speed - measured in metres per second (m/s)

What is a period?

period -the time taken for one wavelength to pass a point. Period = 1/frequency

 

How can waves be described?

frequency

speed

wavelength and amplitude

period

Describe longitudinal waves.

Sound waves and seismic P waves are longitudinal waves. The particles in the material the sound is travelling through move back and forth along the same direction that the sound is travelling.

Particles in a a longitudeinal wave move along the same direction as the wave.

Describe transverse waves.

Waves on a water surface, electromagnetic waves and seismicS waves are all transverse waves. The particles of water move in a direction at right angles to the direction the wave is travelling.

Particles in a transverse wave move across the direction the wave is travelling.