Waves

What is a wave? A disturbance that travels through a medium from one location to another location –A medium is a substance or material which carries the wave

Longitudinal Vibrates parallel to (in the same direction of) wave travel –sound waves – the other end of the medium without the actual movement of matter Animation courtesy of Dr. Dan Russell, Kettering University

Longitudinal Use your Slinky to demonstrate a longitudinal wave: –Work with a partner –Stretch it out along the table –One of you grasp and draw several coils of a stretched Slinky toward yourself –Release the coils –The other student must hold his or her end of the Slinky still –A longitudinal wave pulse will be generated and travel down the length of the Slinky.

Longitudinal Are composed of –Compressions, where the parts of the medium (coils of the Slinky) are closer together than normal – In this investigation, you created (generated) compressional longitudinal waves –The waves traveled through a media (the slinky)

Longitudinal Use your Slinky to demonstrate a longitudinal wave: –Work with a partner –Stretch it out along the table –One of you stretch a segment of the Slinky –Release the coils –The other student must hold his or her end of the Slinky still –A longitudinal wave pulse will be generated and travel down the length of the Slinky.

Longitudinal Are composed of – Rarefactions, where the parts of the medium are farther apart than normal –In this demonstration, you created (generated) rarefactional longitudinal waves –The waves traveled through a media (the slinky)

Transverse Vibrates perpendicular (at right angles) to the wave travel –Electromagnetic waves Animation courtesy of Dr. Dan Russell, Kettering University

Transverse Use your Slinky to demonstrate a transverse wave: –Work with a partner –One of you move your end of the Slinky back and forth (left and right, like a snake crawling), perpendicular to its stretched length. –The other student must hold his or her end of the Slinky still –A series of transverse waves will be generated and will travel through a medium (Slinky)

Water Waves A combination of longitudinal & transverse Animation courtesy of Dr. Dan Russell, Kettering University

Electromagnetic Waves Wave which is capable of transmitting its energy through a vacuum (i.e., empty space) Produced by the vibration of electrons within atoms on the Sun's surface Travel through space until they reach Earth These waves subsequently travel through the vacuum of outer space, subsequently reaching Earth

Mechanical Waves Are not capable of transmitting its energy through a vacuum (space) Require a medium in order to transport their energy from one location to another

Mechanical Waves Waves traveling through a solid medium can be either transverse waves or longitudinal waves Waves traveling through a fluid (such as a liquid or a gas) are always longitudinal waves