1. Section 2 – Properties of Waves pp. 580 - 583
The Energy of Waves
Section 2 – Properties of Waves pp

2. TERMS TO LEARN
Amplitude – the maximum distance a wave vibrates from its resting position
Resting position – where the particles of a medium stay when there are no disturbances

3. TERMS TO LEARN
Wavelength – the distance between one point on one wave to the same point on the next wave
Frequency – the number of waves produced in a certain amount of time
Wave speed – the speed at which a wave travels

4. PROPERTIES OF WAVES
Amplitude
Wavelength
Frequency
Wave speed

5. AMPLITUDE Distance where the greatest movement from rest occurs.
The larger the amplitude is, the taller the wave is and the more energy it has
The smaller the amplitude, the shorter the wave is and the less energy it has.

6. AMPLITUDE
Amplitude of a transverse wave is measured from the resting position to the crest or resting position to trough.

7. WAVELENGTH
On a transverse wave, wavelength is the distance between two adjacent crests, troughs or any one point on one wave to the corresponding point on the next wave.

8. WAVELENGTH
On a longitudinal wave, wavelength is the distance between two adjacent compressions, rarefactions or any one point on one wave to the corresponding point on the next wave.

9. WAVELENGTH Wavelength is measured in meters
The symbol for wavelength is λ

10. FREQUENCY
Frequency is the number of complete waves (or cycles) produced in a specific unit of time.
Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).
1 Hz = 1 cycle/second
1 Hz = 1/s

11. FREQUENCY
For a transverse wave, count the number of crests or troughs that pass a point in a given amount of time.
For a longitudinal wave, count the number of compressions or rarefactions that pass a point in a given amount of time.

12. FREQUENCY The frequency of a wave is related to its wavelength.
At a given speed, the higher the frequency of the wave, the shorter the wavelength is.

13. WAVE SPEED
Found by measuring the distance a single crest (or compression) travels in a given amount of time.
Wave speed depends on the medium through which the wave is traveling. (Ex.: speed of sound in air = 340 m/s; speed of sound in steel = 5200 m/s)

14. WAVE SPEED Formula for calculating wave speed: V= f λ
where v = speed (measured in m/s)
f = frequency (measured in Hz)
λ = wavelength (measured in m)