Wave basics

• What is the amplitude?

  The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.
• What is the wavelength?

  The distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs of a wave.
• What is the frequency?

  Number of waves passing a point per second
• How do you calculate periods?

  T=1/f
• What are transverse waves?

  Waves that oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer (light, ripples)
• What are longitudinal waves?

  Waves that oscillate in the parallel direction as the energy transfer.
• How do you calculate wave speed?

  Wave speed = frequency * wavelength