Waves

Waves

1. Waves at Rest and Resonance

   • Anatomy of a Wave
     • The crest is the maximum positive amount of displacement from the equilibrium point.
       • The trough is the maximum negative amount of displacement from the equilibrium point.
         • The amplitude (A) is the distance from the equilibrium point to the crest.
           • The wavelength (λ) is the length from crest to crest or trough to trough and corresponds to one cycle.
             • Mechanical Waves is the one that needs a medium to travel.
               • A transverse wave happens when the particles in a medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the wave’s motion.
                 • longitudinal wave happens when the particles in a medium vibrate in the same direction of the wave’s motion.
                   • Energy of a Wave
                     • As the wave travels the vibrating particles transfer energy to the medium.

2. Earthquakes and Waves

   • When a perturbation occurs because of the movement of the tectonic plates, it creates waves that spread through the surface of the earth.
     • Longitudinal
       • these waves produce compression efforts
         • Tranverse
           • These waves produce cutting efforts, because they are perpendicular to the spread direction
             • Rayleight waves
               • These are spread similarly to sea waves.
                 • Love waves
                   • These are spread horizontally with cutting effort.