Types and features of wavesWaves come in two kinds, longitudinal and transverse. Transverse waves are like those on water, with the surface going up and down, and longitudinal waves are like of those of sound, consisting of alternating compressions and rarefactions in a medium.
One way to categorize waves is on the basis of the direction of movement of the individual particles of the medium relative to the direction that the waves travel. Categorizing waves on this basis leads to three notable categories: transverse waves, longitudinal waves, and surface waves.
Summary
- A mechanical wave is a disturbance in matter that transfers energy through the matter.
- The matter through which a mechanical wave travels is called the medium (plural, media).
- There are three types of mechanical waves: transverse, longitudinal, and surface waves.
The matter through which the wave travels is called the medium (plural, media). The medium in the water wave pictured above is water, a liquid. Particles of the medium don't actually travel along with the wave. Only the energy of the wave travels through the medium.
Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum, that is an empty space, whereas mechanical waves cannot. They need a medium to travel such as water or air. Ripples in a pond are an example of mechanical waves whereas electromagnetic waves include light and radio signals, which can travel through the vacuum of space.
These changing fields form electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves differ from mechanical waves in that they do not require a medium to propagate. This means that electromagnetic waves can travel not only through air and solid materials, but also through the vacuum of space.
Waves are caused by energy passing through the water, causing the water to move in a circular motion. Though waves do cause the surface water to move, the idea that waves are travelling bodies of water is misleading. Waves are actually energy passing through the water, causing it to move in a circular motion.
When waves travel from one medium to another the frequency never changes. As waves travel into the denser medium, they slow down and wavelength decreases. Part of the wave travels faster for longer causing the wave to turn. The wave is slower but the wavelength is shorter meaning frequency remains the same.
Light waves travel much faster than sound waves. Light waves do not need a medium in which to travel but sound waves do. Explain that unlike sound, light waves travel fastest through a vacuum and air, and slower through other materials such as glass or water. (Actual speeds are on the 2nd page)
Destructive interference occurs when waves come together in such a way that they completely cancel each other out. When two waves interfere destructively, they must have the same amplitude in opposite directions.
A medium is the substance through which a wave can propagate. Water is the medium of ocean waves. Air is the medium through which we hear sound waves. The electric and magnetic fields are the medium of light.
Waves bend as they enter a new medium because they start traveling at a different speed in the new medium. For example, light travels more slowly in water than in air. This causes it to refract when it passes from air to water or from water to air.
Light moves slower through denser media because more particles get in its way. Each time the light bumps into a particle of the medium, the light gets absorbed which causes the particle to vibrate a little and then the light gets re-emitted.
Reflection occurs when a wave strikes an object and bounces off of it.
As a wave crosses a boundary into a new medium, its speed and wavelength change while its frequency remains the same. If the speed increases, then the wavelength must increase as well in order to maintain the same frequency.
A pulse is just a special type of wave - a solitary wave. A pulse refers to a disturbance that travel from one location to another location through a medium. While, A wave refers to the disturbance or variation that travels through the medium.
Medium - The medium is the matter that a wave travels through. Period - The period of a wave is the time between wave crests. It is the inverse of the frequency. Polarization - Polarization is when a wave oscillates in one particular direction.
Wave: The repeating and periodic disturbance that travels through a medium (e.g. water) from one location to another location. Wave Crest: The highest part of a wave. Wave Trough: The lowest part of a wave. Wave Height: The vertical distance between the wave trough and the wave crest.
It is important to remember that all waves transfer energy but they do not transfer matter . For example, if a ball is placed on the surface of a pond when ripples move across it, the ball will move up and down but not outwards with the wave.
(Entry 1 of 3) intransitive verb. 1 : to motion with the hands or with something held in them in signal or salute. 2 : to float, play, or shake in an air current : move loosely to and fro : flutter flags waving in the breeze.
Waves can transfer energy over distance without moving matter the entire distance. For example, an ocean wave can travel many kilometers without the water itself moving many kilometers. The water moves up and down—a motion known as a disturbance. It is the disturbance that travels in a wave, transferring energy.
Waves are described using the following terms: Rest position – the undisturbed position of particles when they are not vibrating. Displacement – the distance that a certain point in the medium has moved from its rest position.
