P:6 Part 1

P:6 Part 1

1. Wave Speed

   • the speed of a wave is the speed at which energy is transferred
   • is a measure of how far a wave moves in one second

2. Propetries of Waves

   • all waves have a:
     • frequency - the number of fixed waves passing a fixed point per second, measured in Hertz (Hz)
     • amplitude - the maximum displacement that any particle achieves from it's undisturbed position in metres
     • wavelength - distance from one point on one wave the the equivalent point on the next wave
     • period - the time for one complete oscillation in seconds
   • when observing waves:
     • amplitude is seen as the waveheight
     • period is the time taken for one complete wave to pass a fixed point

3. Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

   • there are two types of wave: transverse and longitudinal
   • all waves transfer energy from one place to another
   • for example: if a stone is dropped in a pond, ripples travel outward carrying the energy. The water does not travel outwards (it would leave a hole in the middle)
   • the particles that make up a wave oscillate (vibrate) around a fixed point. In doing so they continually pass on energy to the next particle and so on
   • energy moves along but particles remain
   • in a transverse wave, the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
   • this can be demonstrated by moving a rope or slinky up and down repeatedly
   • in a longitudinal wave, the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
   • this can be demonstrated by moving a slinky forward and backward horizontally

Images and files in the map