1. Waves

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF WAVES
Waves are described according to their
Amplitude measures DISPLACEMENT size of the disturbance
Wavelength  distance of a “repeating unit” Also called a cycle
Velocity v speed = how fast wave travels

3. AMPLITUDE Distance between “rest & crest” or “rest & trough”
Gives indication of “power” or “strength” of wave (magnitude of earthquake = Richter scale)
Does not affect velocity of wave
Determines loudness (sound) or brightness (EM wave)

4. WAVELENGTH 
Distance between any two repeating points on a wave crest-crest, trough-trough, expansion-expansion, compression-compression
Determines what colors we see; what notes we hear (pitch)
Shorter wavelengths have more cycles per
minute because they aren’t as long

5. Frequency ƒ
How often number of wavelengths that pass any point per second
measured in wavelengths/second or cycles/second Hertz (Hz) = number of wavelengths in 1 second
Frequency is related to velocity: v = ƒ 