Properties of waves

• What do waves transfer?

  Energy and information
• What do waves not transfer?

  Matter
• What are the two types of waves?

  Transverse and longitudinal
• What is a transverse wave?


  A wave for which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
• What is a longitudinal wave?

  A wave for which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
• Give two examples of transverse waves.

  Electromagnetic waves and seismic s-waves
• Give two examples of longitudinal waves.

  Sound waves and seismic p-waves
• What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?

  Compressions and rarefactions
• What are the two parts of a transverse wave called?

  Peaks and troughs
• What is a wave’s amplitude?


  The maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position
• What is wavelength?

  The distance from a point on a wave to the same position on the adjacent wave
• What is the frequency of a wave?


  The number of waves that pass a given point each second
• What is the unit used for frequency?

  Hertz, Hz
• What is meant by a frequency of 200Hz?

  200 waves pass a given point each second
• What is wave speed?

  The speed at which energy is transferred through a medium
• What does a wave transfer?


  Energy
• What is wave velocity?

  Wave velocity is equal to the product of the wavelength and frequency of the wave
• State the equation used to calculate wave speed and give appropriate units.

  Wave Speed = Frequency x Wavelength; Speed (m/s), Frequency (Hz), Wavelength (m)
• What is meant by the period of the wave?


  The length of time it takes for one full wave to pass through a point