Properties of Waves

Wave motion involves periodic motion, which is motion repeated at regular intervals.
- Example: Swinging of a pendulum bob.
- One oscillation or vibration is a complete cycle (e.g., pendulum bob moving from A to B and back to A).
A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring the medium itself.
Waves transfer energy without transferring matter.
- Example: Sound waves, where the wave travels, not the air molecules.
- Objects floating on water bob up and down, demonstrating energy transfer without matter transfer.
Waves are described as oscillations or vibrations about a fixed point.
- Ripples in water cause particles to oscillate up and down.
- Sound waves cause air particles to vibrate back and forth.
When a wave travels between two points, no matter travels with it; only energy is transferred.

The disturbance is along the direction in which the wave travels.
Also referred to as compression waves.
Examples:
- Sound waves: Air particles vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave motion.
- Seismic P waves: Travel through the earth as layers of rocks vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave motion.

The disturbance is perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels.
Examples:
- Water waves: Water particles vibrate up and down as the wave travels horizontally.
- Seismic S waves: Travel through the earth as layers of rocks vibrate perpendicularly to the direction of the wave.
- Electromagnetic waves (e.g., light): Produced by charged particles vibrating at right angles to the direction of the wave.

Longitudinal waves: Particles vibrate along the same direction as the movement of the wave.
Transverse waves: Particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

Light and radio waves are examples of electromagnetic waves. These are transverse waves where the electic charge is vibrating perpendicular to the direction of the wave.