1. Waves Introduction

2. Types of Waves 3 Main Types
Mechanical Waves: require a material (medium) to travel through (water, air)
Electromagnetic Waves (EM): do not require a medium to travel (ex. Light, radio)
Matter waves: produced by electrons and particles

3. Mechanical Waves Types of Mechanical Waves
Longitudinal waves: cause the medium to move parallel to the direction of the wave.

4. Mechanical Waves
Transverse Waves: cause the medium to move perpendicular to the direction of the wave

5. Mechanical Waves
Surface Waves: are both transverse and longitudinal waves mixed in one medium

6. Measuring Waves
The shortest time that a point takes to return to the initial position (one vibration) is called period (T)
Seconds per vibration
The number of vibrations per second is called frequency (f) and is measured in hertz (Hz)
Vibrations per second

7. Period and frequency have an inverse relationship

9. The shortest distance between crests (highest points) or troughs (lowest points) is the wavelength (λ, lambda)

10. By knowing the frequency of a wave and its wavelength, we can calculate the velocity (speed) of the wave
v = f λ

11. The amplitude of a wave is the maximum height of a crest (or depth of a trough) measured from equilibirum

12. Collision of Waves - Interference
The Principle of Superposition
When two waves traveling in opposite directions through the same medium collide, the amplitude of the resulting wave will be the sum of the two initial waves

13. Constructive Interference
Amplitude of the initial waves are in the same direction
Resulting wave will be larger than the original waves
Highest point of constructive interference is called an antinode

14. Destructive Interference
The amplitude of the initial waves are opposite
The amplitude of the resulting wave will be zero (if equal)
The point in the middle of destructive interference is called a node (no movement)