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Wave Properties & Types of Waves

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Wave•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

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

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Parts of a Transverse Wave

•Crest – top of a wave•Trough – bottom of a wave

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Parts of a Transverse Wave

•Amplitude – ½ the height of a wave

•Relates to the amount of energy carried by the wave

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Parts of a Transverse Wave

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Parts of a Transverse Wave

•Wavelength – the length of one cycle of a wave

•Abbreviated by using the symbol, λ

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

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Compression/Longitudinal Waves

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

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Parts of a compression wave

Compression – the area where the particles are more dense

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Parts of a compression wave

Rarefaction – The less dense area of the wave

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Parts of a compression wave

Wavelength – One complete cycle of a wave

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Surface Waves•both transverse &

compressional; •examples: water waves, seismic waves

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Medium•Most waves need something to travel on (or through)

•The substance through which a wave travels is a medium

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Standing Waves•Appear to be standing still•Standing waves are caused by two waves continuously interfering with each other.

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Types of Waves…

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Reflection•The angle at which a ray strikes a surface is equal to the angle at which it is reflected

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Reflection

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Reflection

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Reflection

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Reflection

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Period and Frequency•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)

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Formula 1•Frequency = 1/ period•f = 1/T

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Formula 2•Frequency = # waves / time

•f = # waves / t

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Formula 3•Speed = frequency x wavelength

•S = f x λ