The Nature of Waves

Wave: is any disturbance that transmits energy through matter or space.

Medium: is a substance through which a wave can travel. It can be a liquid, a solid or a gas.

Transverse wave: a wave in which particles vibrate with an up-and-down motion.

Terms to Learn

Crest: is the highest point of the transverse wave.

Trough: is the lowest point of the transverse wave.

Terms to Learn

Wavelength (l) length or size of one oscillationAmplitude (A) strength of disturbance (intensity)Frequency (f) repetition / how often they occur per

second

Wave Parameters

Measure from any identical two successive points

What is the Wave length?

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

30nm – 10nm = 20nm

(nm)

There are 4 complete oscillations depicted hereONE WAVE = 1 COMPLETE OSCILLATION

Longitudinal wave: the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth along the path that the wave travels.

Mechanical wave: are waves that require a medium.

Electromagnetic wave: are waves that do not require a medium

Terms to Learn

Mechanical Waves

Sound waves Ocean waves Waves on guitar

strings

Waves are oscillations and they transport energy.The energy of a wave is proportional to its frequency.

Fast oscillation = high frequency = high energySlow oscillation = low frequency = low energy

The amplitude is a measure of the wave intensity.SOUND: amplitude corresponds to loudnessLIGHT: amplitude corresponds to brightness

Wave Properties

A transverse wave and a longitudinal wave can combine to form a surface wave.

Surface waves look like transverse waves, but the particles of the medium in a surface wave move in circles rather than up and down.

Combination Waves