Waves and Energy

What are Waves?Wave Wave

Noun

Similar Words: Ripple, Swell, Current

Definition A disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space. It carries energy, NOT PARTICLES, from one place to another.

Sample Sentence When you wave goodbye to someone it is NOT the type of wave we are studying in Physics class.

Examples of Waves Ocean Wave What type of matter

does the energy of the wave move through?

Will the wave keep going forever?

Examples of Waves Raindrops into Water What type of matter

does the energy of the wave move through?

Will the wave keep going forever?

Examples of Waves

Stadium Wave Which one moves around the

stadium: The WAVE or The PEOPLE?

Will the wave keep going forever?

Examples of Waves Slinky How are the two

waves similar? How are the two

waves different? Will the wave keep

going forever?

Examples of Waves

Classroom Wave When you go up and down which one moves

to the left: The WAVE or The PEOPLE? When you bump the person next to you which

one moves to the left: The WAVE or The PEOPLE?

Will the wave keep going forever?

Waves and Energy Wave = A disturbance that

transfers energy through matter or space. It carries energy, NOT PARTICLES, from one place to another.

Example: Drop a small stone into a pool of water. The surface of the water is disturbed and ripples. The disturbance is caused by energy traveling through the water.

A wave is always the result of energy moving from one place to another.

What is a Medium?Medium Me-di-um Noun

Similar Words: Material, Particles, Substance, Object

Definition Any material or area through which a wave travels. Most waves need a medium.

Sample Sentence An earthquake creates seismic waves. The medium for the seismic waves is _________________________________.

Waves Through a Medium Medium = any material or area

through which a wave travels. Most waves need a medium.

Energy moves forward, the material does not.

Examples: Water is a medium for ocean

waves. Air is a medium for sound waves. Some waves, like those that

make up light, do not need a medium.

The medium does not move forward, the wave simply moves THROUGH the medium.

The particles of the medium only vibrate, or move in small circles.

Energy is transmitted without the movement of the medium in the direction of the wave.

Why do waves eventually stop? The Law of Conservation of

Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one type of energy to another.

Where did the kinetic energy go?Think about when we did the

classroom wave.Friction Thermal Energy

Review Questions1. What is a wave?

2. A wave carries __ NOT __ from one place to another.

3. What is a medium?

4. Identify the medium for each of the following waves:

a. Ocean Wave, Stadium Wave, Seismic Wave

5. What type of wave does not need a medium?

6. Explain why a wave eventually stops.