Waves

A repeating movement (or disturbance) that travels through a MEDIUM transporting energy from one location (the source) to another location.

The MEDIUM is the matter through which waves travel. Any substance (MEDIUM) through which a disturbance can travel. Can be solid, liquid, or gas or combination of all three.

Electromagnetic waves. Examples are radio waves and light waves.

Must travel through a medium (solid, liquid, gas or combination of them).

Moves back and forth at right angles to the direction of the wave. Oscillations are transverse to the direction of motion.

THINK SLINKY. Particles in the Medium move same direction the wave. Oscillations are in the direction of motion.

Speed, Frequency, Wavelength

V=speed of wave ( m/s) f=frequency of wave (Hz) λ=wavelength (m) V = f x λ

Longitudinal Waves (also known as Compression Waves) and Transverse Waves

Disturbances that are made up of electrical and magnetic fields. Does not require a medium to travel. They travel through space. (Radio Waves, Light Waves). Only TRANSVERSE WAVES.

Disturbances that require a MEDIUM (solid, liquid, gas) to travel through. 3 Types: 1. TRANSVERSE WAVES 2. LONGITUDINAL WAVES 3. SURFACE WAVES Examples: slinky, water, sound waves.

A WAVE in which particles of the MEDIUM move in a direction perpendicular (also called right angle) to the direction that a WAVE moves.

A WAVE in which the particles of the MEDIUM vibrate parallel to the direction of WAVE motion

The height of the WAVE measured from center of the wave to the top OR center of the wave to the bottom. Think VOLUME (how loud or soft) ; higher wave = louder / smaller wave = softer. The maximum distance that the particles of a WAVE’S MEDIUM vibrate from the its rest position. Picture shows both AMPLITUDE and PITCH

The number of waves produced in a given amount of time. Think PITCH (how high or low sound is - Chase squeeky ball v Stanleys low bark). The more WAVES the higher the pitch. The fewer WAVES the lower the pitch. Picture shows both AMPLITUDE and PITCH

The distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave.

The speed at which a wave travels through a MEDIUM. Wave Speed (V) m/s = Wavelength (λ) m x Frequency (f) Hz

See Image

See Image

The bouncing back of a ray of light, sound, or heat when the ray hits a surface that it does not go through.

The blending of a WAVE as a WAVE passes between two substances in which the spped of the WAVE differs.

A chance in the direction of a WAVE when the WAVE finds an obstacle or an edge, such as an opening.

The combination of two or more WAVES that results in a single WAVE.