What is a wave? Waves are rhythmic disturbances that carry energy through matter or space A medium is the material through which a wave travels

Types of Waves TransverseCompressional

Transverse Waves Waves in which the medium moves at right angles to the direction of movement Examples: water waves, some types of earthquake waves, radio waves, microwaves, light waves

Parts of a Transverse Wave Wavelength: the distance between a point on one wave and the identical point on the next wave Amplitude: the distance from the crest (or trough) of a wave to the rest position of the medium; depends on the amount of energy carried by the wave

Parts of a Transverse Wave, cont. Crest: the highest point of a wave Trough: the lowest point of a wave crest trough

Wave Measurements The frequency of a wave is the number of wave crests that pass a certain point each second Frequency is expressed in hertz (Hz) One hertz is the same as one wave per second

Wave Measurements, cont. Wave velocity, v, describes how fast the wave moves forward Wave velocity can be determined by multiplying the wavelength and frequency velocity = wavelength X frequency Velocity is measured in m/s Wavelength is measured in m Frequency is measured in hertz

velocity wavelength frequency Wave Triangle λ f v

Compressional Waves Waves in which matter vibrates in the same direction as the wave Examples: sound waves, some types of earthquake waves

Parts of Compressional Waves Compression: the crowded (more dense) area of a compressional wave Rarefaction: the spread out (less dense) area of a compressional wave Wavelength: consists of one complete compression and one complete rarefaction; the distance between two compressions or two rarefactions of the same wave

Parts of a Compressional Wave Rarefaction Compression

Wave Measurements The frequency of a compressional wave is the number of compressions that pass a certain point each second

What is Sound?

Wave Motion Michael Offutt