transverse and longitudinal waves

Cards (12)

  • when waves travel through a medium, the particles of the medium oscillate and transfer energy between each other. but overall the particles stay in the same place - only energy is transferred
  • the amplitude of the wave is the maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed position
  • the wavelength is the distance between the same point on two adjacent waves
  • frequency is the number of complete waves passing a certain point per second. frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz). 1 Hz is 1 wave per second
  • you can find period using period = 1 / frequency
  • wave
  • transverse waves, the oscillations (vibrations) are perpendicular at 90 degrees, so the direction of energy transfer. most waves are transverse, including electromagnetic waves, ripples and wave on a string
  • in transverse waves, vibrations go up and down
  • longitudinal waves have parallel vibrations , the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer . examples are sound waves, shock waves.
  • in longitudinal, vibrations go in the same direction as waves travel.
  • wave speed = frequency x wavelength
  • the wave speed is the speed at which energy is being transferred