Waves

Waves

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

   • MECHANICAL WAVES
     • Definition: Need matter (medium) to transfer energy. The matter used, called: medium, is the substance through which a wave can travel. Types of mediums: air, water, particles
       • TRANSVERSE WAVES: (MECHANICAL)
         • Definition: 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: The crest is the highest point on a wave. The trough is the valley between two waves, which is the lowest point. The wavelength is the horizontal distance, either between the crests or troughs of two consecutive waves. The amplitude is the peak (greatest) value (either positive or negative) of a wave. The distance from the undisturbed level to the trough or crest.
       • COMPRESSIONAL (HORIZONTAL) WAVE
         • Definition: A mechanical wave in which matter in the medium moves forward and backward along the same direction that the wave travels. Example: Sound waves Parts: The compression is the part of the compressional wave where the particles are crowded together. The rarefaction is the part of the compressional wave where the particles are spread apart. The wavelength is the distance from compression to compression or rarefaction to rarefaction in a compressional wave.
   • ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
     • Definition: do not need matter (or medium) to transfer energy, but the waves can go through it. examples: radiation, TV & radio waves, X-rays, microwaves, lasers, energy from the sun, visible light. Parts: Electric field: a region around a charged particle or object within which a force would be exerted on other charged particles or objects. wavelength: the distance between successive crests of a wave magnetic field: a region around a magnetic material or a moving electric charge within which the force of magnetism acts. Propagtion direction: The axis along which the wave travels.

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