1

Wave - Rhythmic disturbance that carries energy through matter and space

ALL WAVES CARRY ENERGY!Pulse – one wave that travels through a medium

Continuous waves – waves that repeatedly move up and down

2

Most waves need something to travel on (or through)

The substance through which a wave travels is a medium

3

Amplitude (A) maximum displacement of a particle from rest or equilibrium position. Measure in units of length

PhasePhaserelated to the related to the position and motionposition and motionof the particles of the mediumof the particles of the medium

4

Period (T) – time it takes for one wave to pass

The unit of a period is the second (s)

Frequency (f) – the number of waves that pass each second

The unit of frequency is Hertz (Hz)

5

VelocityVelocity - the - the speedspeed of the wave of the wavedenoted by v and measured in units of dist/timedenoted by v and measured in units of dist/time

v = d/t = /T = f

The speed of a wave depends on the propertiesThe speed of a wave depends on the propertiesof the medium through which it is traveling.of the medium through which it is traveling.

Frequency = 1/ periodf = 1/T

7

Frequency = # waves / time f = # waves / t

8

Velocity= frequency x wavelengthv = f x λ or λ/T

9

Transverse waves – matter in the medium moves back and forth at right angles to the direction that the wave travels.

10

Crest – top of a waveTrough – bottom of a wave

11

Amplitude – ½ the height of a wave

Relates to the amount of energy carried by the wave

12

13

Wavelength – the length of one cycle of a wave

Abbreviated by using the symbol, λ

14

Frequency – how many cycles (waves) are completed in a given time (usually 1 second)

15

Compressional waves – matter in the medium moves in the same direction that the wave travels. Example: Sound waves

16

17

Compression – the area where the particles are more dense

18

Rarefaction – The less dense area of the wave

19

Wavelength – One complete cycle of a wave

both transverse & compressional;

examples: water waves, seismic waves

20

Appear to be standing stillStanding waves are caused by two waves continuously interfering with each other.

21

22