1. Characteristics of Waves

2. Bill Nye Waves

3. What are Waves?
Rhythmic disturbances that repeat the same cycle of motion and transfer energy
Two Types: Electromagnetic and Mechanical

4. Laptops- Waves
Use the computers to conduct research on waves. is a great site.
Create a cheat sheet flyer. On one side include the types of waves and their major parts:
Electromagnetic Wave, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Mechanical Wave, Transverse Wave, Compressional/Longitudinal Wave
On the other side, include the parts of a wave. Include:
Amplitude, frequency, wave height, wave length, crest, trough, wave energy, wave speed

6. Parts of a Wave
The crest is the highest point on a wave.

7. Trough
Valley between two waves, is the lowest point.

8. Wavelength (λ)
The horizontal distance, either between the crests or troughs of two consecutive waves.

9. Wave Height
A vertical distance between a wave's crest and the next trough.

10. Amplitude
- The peak (greatest) value (either positive or negative) of a wave.
The distance from the equalibrium (rest point) to the trough or crest.

11. Energy
In mechanical waves energy is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude.
In electromagnetic waves, energy is carried in photons (little packets of energy)
Energy in electromagnetic wave is proportional to the waves frequency.

12. Frequency (f )
Is the number of complete waves or cycles of oscillation in a given period of time
Measured is hertz
Period- is the time it takes to complete one full cycle.
Measured in seconds

13. Wave Speed A measure of how fast a wave is moving.
For mechanical waves it depends on the state of matter

14. National Geographic Wave Simulator

16. Electromagnetic Waves
Read the article and highlight important information.

17. Electromagnetic Waves
From the article:
write down 3 important facts.
At least one thing you didn’t know.
At least one question about the information.
Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is the strongest?
Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is the weakest?

18. Electromagnetic Waves
Waves that do not need a medium (matter) to travel in.
Can travel in a vacuum (like outer space) as well as air, water and glass, but can be absorbed by opaque materials
Light, X-rays, Radio Waves

19. Electromagnetic Spectrum

20. Mechanical Waves Waves that use matter to transfer energy:
Travel through air, as well as solids, liquids and other gases.
No matter, no wave…..like in outer space.

22. Transverse Waves Type of mechanical wave
Wave energy causes the matter in the medium to move up and down or back and forth at right angles to the direction the wave travels.

23. Longitudinal or Compressional Wave
Type of Mechanical Wave
Matter in the medium moves forward and backward along the same direction that the wave travels.
Slinky

24. Compare and Contrast
Compare and contrast electromagnetic waves with mechanical waves.

25. Five Important Properties of Waves

26. Reflection
Refraction
Diffraction
Interference
Absorption

27. 1. Reflection:
When a wave hits a reflecting surface, it is reflected outwards at the same angle as it came in.

28. 1. Reflection
Mirror
Incident light beam
Reflected light beam

29. 1. Reflection

30. 2. Refraction:
Waves bend when they go from one medium to another (like from air into water or glass)

31. 2. Refraction

32. 2. Refraction:

33. 2. Refraction
Different wavelengths bend at different angles, which is what makes a prism able to separate white light into all its colors
Refracted Colors
Air
White Light
Glass Prism

34. 2. Refraction

35. 2. Refraction
Refraction is also what makes lenses work. Light bends when it goes from air to glass.
Air
Incoming light
Focused light
Lens

36. 3. Diffraction
Light bends when it goes around around obstacles and through openings

37. When two waves run into one another, they add if crests overlap, and subtract if troughs overlap
4. Interference

38. When waves are absorbed by material, depending on the material depends on the amount of absorption.

39. Properties Flyer
Using the knowledge you just gained plus the notes/textbook, create a colorful flyer that represents the properties that we talked about.