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 the definition of amplitude?

  Maximum displacement from undisturbed position
• How can you identify the amplitude on a transverse wave?

  It is the furthest point from the undisturbed position
• What is the definition of wavelength?

  Distance from one point on a wave to the equivalent point on the next wave
• How can you measure the wavelength of a wave?

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

  The Greek letter lambda
• How do you measure wavelength 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 wave has five waves in one second, what is its frequency?

  Five Hertz
• How do you find the frequency of a wave with three waves in one second?

  It is three Hertz
• What is the definition of period?

  Time in seconds for one wave to pass a point
• How is the period calculated?

  Period in seconds equals one divided by frequency in Hertz
• 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
• What is the relationship between frequency and period?

  • Frequency is the number of waves per second
  • Period is the time for one wave to pass
  • They are inversely related: $\text{Period} =$$\frac{1}{\text{Frequency}}$
• How do transverse and longitudinal waves differ in measuring wavelength?

  • Transverse waves: measure from crest to crest or trough to trough
  • Longitudinal waves: measure from compression to compression or rarefaction to rarefaction