Properties of waves

• What should you be able to describe by the end of the video?

  Wave motion in terms of amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period
• What is a transverse wave?

  A wave where particle motion is perpendicular to wave direction
• What is the definition of amplitude?

  Maximum displacement from undisturbed position
• How is amplitude visually represented on a wave diagram?

  As the distance from the undisturbed position to the peak
• What is the definition of wavelength?

  Distance from one wave point to the equivalent point on the next wave
• How can wavelength be measured on a wave diagram?

  By measuring the distance between equivalent points on adjacent waves
• What is the symbol for wavelength?

  The Greek letter lambda
• How is wavelength measured in longitudinal waves?

  From one compression to the next compression
• What is the definition of frequency?

  Number of waves passing a point each second
• What is the unit of frequency?

  Hertz
• How do you calculate frequency from a wave diagram?

  Count the total number of waves in one second
• If a transverse wave shows five waves in one second, what is its frequency?

  Five Hertz
• If a wave has three waves in one second, what is its frequency?

  Three Hertz
• What is the definition of period?

  Time in seconds for one wave to pass a point
• If a wave has a frequency of 100 Hertz, what is its period?

  $0.01 \text{ seconds}$
• What are the key features of waves?

  • Amplitude
  • Wavelength
  • Frequency
  • Period
• How do amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period relate to wave motion?

  • Amplitude: Maximum displacement from rest position
  • Wavelength: Distance between equivalent points on waves
  • Frequency: Number of waves per second
  • Period: Time for one wave to pass a point
• How is the period calculated?

  Period in seconds equals one divided by frequency in Hertz