wave properties

wave properties

• Amplitude: the height of the wave, measured in meters.
• Wavelength: the distance between adjacent crests, measured in meters.
• Period: the time it takes for one complete wave to pass a given point, measured in seconds.
• Frequency: the number of complete waves that pass a point in one second, measured in inverse seconds, or Hertz (Hz).
• Speed: the horizontal speed of a point on a wave as it propagates, measured in meters / second.
• Waves are one of the ways in which energy may be transferred between stores. Waves can be described as oscillations, or vibrations about a rest position.
• All waves transfer energy but they do not transfer matter.

waves

• Waves are described using the following terms:
• rest position - the undisturbed position of particles or fields when they are not vibrating
• displacement - the distance that a certain point in the medium has moved from its rest position
• peak - the highest point above the rest position
• trough - the lowest point below the rest position
• amplitude - the maximum displacement of a point of a wave from its rest position
• wavelength - distance covered by a full cycle of the wave, usually measured from peak to peak, or trough to trough
• time period - the time taken for a full cycle of the wave, usually measured from peak to peak, or trough to trough
• frequency - the number of waves passing a point each second

wave types

• Mechanical waves cause oscillations of particles in a solid, liquid or gas and must have a medium to travel through.
• Electromagnetic waves cause oscillations in electrical and magnetic fields.
• Longitudinal waves the vibrations are parallel to the direction of wave travel.
• Transverse waves the vibrations are at right angles to the direction of wave travel.