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.
Crest: is the highest point of the transverse wave. Trough: is the lowest point of the transverse wave.
Wavelength ( ) length or size of one oscillation Amplitude (A) strength of disturbance (intensity) Frequency (f)repetition / how often they occur per second
Measure from any identical two successive points nm – 10nm = 20nm (nm) There are 4 complete oscillations depicted here ONE 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
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 energy Slow oscillation = low frequency = low energy The amplitude is a measure of the wave intensity. SOUND: amplitude corresponds to loudness LIGHT: amplitude corresponds to brightness
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.