Nature and Properties of Waves

Wave

A rhythmic disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space. -carries energy without carrying matter from place to place.

Electromagnetic

Waves capable of transferring energy through a vacuum. Ex. Light waves.

Mechanical

Waves that can only travel through a medium.

Medium

Matter through which a wave travels through can be solid, liquid, or gas. Ex. Sound and water waves.

Transverse

Matter and the medium moves back-and-forth at right angles to the direction that the wave is traveling. -particle motion is perpendicular to wave motion. Ex. Electromagnet waves, vibrations in string instruments, ripples of surface of water.

Longitudinal waves

(Aka compressional waves) matter in the medium waves back-and-forth in the same direction that the wave is traveling. -particle motion is parallel to wave motion. Ex. Sound waves, ultrasounds, waves made with a slinky.

Crest

(Aka peak) highest points of a transverse wave.

Trough

Lowest points of a transverse wave

Compression

Where particles are pushed together in a longitudinal wave

Rarefaction

Where they spread a part and a longitudinal wave

Amplitude

The amount of energy carried by a wave

Transverse waves (amplitude)

The height of the wave

Longitudinal wave (amplitude)

The amount of compression and a wave

Wavelength

The distance between one point on a wave and the nearest point just like it. Measured in m.

Transverse waves (wave length)

Erest to crest or trough to trough

Longitudinal wave (wavelength)

Compression to compression or rare fraction to rare fraction.

Period (T)

The amount of time it takes one wavelength to pass a point. -Measured in (s)

Frequency (f)

The number of waves that pass a given point in one second. -measured in hertz (Hz) . (Frequency and period, have an inverse relationship.) (frequency and wavelength also have an inverse relationship.) the higher, the frequency, the shorter the wavelength. The lower, the frequency the longer the wavelength.

Wave speed (v)

How fast the wave travels. Measured in meters per second. Speed is dependent on the type of wave and properties of the medium the wave is traveling through.

Mechanical wave (like sound)

Must travel through particles, therefore travel fastest through solids, then liquids, then gases due to the closeness of the particles. -also travel faster through warmer mediums because particles Clyde more.

Electromagnetic wave (like light)

Do not need a medium, therefore travel through fastest through vacuum and slowest through solids.