1. transverse, longitudinal and surface waves
Mechanical Waves
transverse, longitudinal and surface waves

2. Mechanical Waves
A mechanical wave is a disturbance in matter that carries energy from one place to another
Mechanical waves require matter to travel through
A mechanical wave is created when a source of energy causes a vibration to travel through a medium

3. Examples of Mediums
A medium is the matter through which a wave travels
Solids, liquids and gases can all act as a medium
In a wave pool, the water is the medium
When you shake a rope, the rope is the medium

4. Types of mechanical waves
The three main types of mechanical waves are: transverse waves, longitudinal (compressional)waves and surface waves

5. Transverse Waves
A crest is the highest point above the rest position of a wave
A trough is the lowest point below the rest position of a wave
crest crest
trough

6. Transverse Wave
In a transverse wave the wave causes the medium to vibrate at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels
The wave carries energy from left to right, in a direction perpendicular to the up and down motion of the medium
Direction of wave
Direction
of Vibration

7. Longitudinal Waves
A compression is an area where particles in a medium are spaced close together
A rarefaction is an area where particles in a medium are spread out
This can be seen in spring toys like slinkies
rarefaction
compression

8. Longitudinal Waves
A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the vibration of the medium is parallel to the direction the wave travels
The vibration is a back and forth motion that is parallel to or in the same direction that the wave moves

9. Surface Waves
A surface wave is a wave that travels along a surface separating two mediums
An ocean wave travels at the surface between the water and the air
Waves behave differently near shore, when they topple over themselves they bring the medium and anything floating in it with them

10. Surface Waves A bobber will move up and down like a transverse wave
The bobber will also move back and forth like a longitudinal wave
These two motions combined cause the bobber to move in a circle