Waves

Waves

1. Waves are rhythmic disturbances that carry energy without carrying matter

   • Mechanical waves
     • They DO need matter to transfer energy.
       • They can travel through substances like air, water, particles, strings, solids, liquids, gases
         • Transverse waves
           • 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.
             • Example: Waves in water
           • PARTS
             • Crest: Highest point on a wave
               • Wavelength: Horizontal distance between two crests
                 • Trough: Lowest point on a wave
                   • Amplitude: distance from the undisturbed level to the crest.
         • Longitudinal waves
           • Matter in the medium moves forward and backward along the same direction that the wave travels.
             • Example: Sound waves
           • PARTS
             • Compression: Part of the wave where particles are crowded together.
               • Rarefaction: Part of the wave where particles are spread apart.
                 • Wavelength: Distance from compression to compression or rarefaction to rarefaction
   • Electromagnetic waves
     • They DON'T need matter to transfer energy, but they can go through it.
       • PARTS
         • Crest: Highest point on a wave
         • Trough: Lowest point on a wave
         • Wavelength: Horizontal distance between two crests
         • Amplitude: distance from the undisturbed level to the crest.
     • EXAMPLES: -Light -Radiation -TV & radio waves -X-rays -Microwaves -Lasers -Sun energy.

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