Wave properties

Wave properties

1. Mechanical waves

   • a wave is a disturbance that carries energy through matter or space without transferring matter. mechanical waves can travel through a physical medium.
   • Transverse waves: a wave pulse is a single bump or disturbance that travels through a medium. a wave that disturbs the particles in the medium perpendicular to the dire ion of the wave's travel. periodic wave: if the disturbances continue at a constant rate.
   • Longitudinal waves: the disturbance is parallel to the direction of the wave's travel. sound waves.
   • Surface waves: the medium's particles follow a circular path that is at times parallel to the direction of travel and at other times perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

2. Wave properties

   • amplitude: the maximum distance of the wave from equilibrium. it is always positive.
   • Energy of a wave: a wave's amplitude depends on how the wave is generated. more energy for more amplitude. Wavelength: through is each point on a transverse wave. crest is each high point on a wave. the shortest distance between points where the wave pattern repeats itself is called the wavelength.
   • speed: how fast it moves. phase any two points on a wave that are one or more whole wavelengths apart. the frequency of a wave is the number of complete oscillations a point on that wave.