Properties of Waves

Properties of Waves

1. What are they?

   • Waves are moving energy
     • Light energy from the computer screen travels to your eyes as light waves.
     • How can they move?
       • Along ropes
       • Along strings
       • Across the surface of water
       • Waves can even travel through space, a vacuum
       • Waves move in regular patterns called wave disturbances

2. What types of waves are there?

   • Transverse Waves
     • In transverse waves particles vibrate at right angles to the movement of energy
       • Example is a light wave, water wave and all the electromagnetic waves
   • Longitudinal Waves
     • Particles vibrate in the same direction as the movement of energy
       • Examples are sound waves and seismic waves

3. Characteristics

   • Amplitude
     • Hight of the wavelength from middle to a peak or trough
   • Wavelength
     • Length of one complete wave
       • Can be measured on a distance graph
   • Time Period
     • Time it takes for one complete wave
   • Frequency
     • Number of waves that travels past a point per second
       • Measured in Hertz (Hz)