Waves (Types)

• Mechanical waves REQUIRE A MEDIUM. Examples are water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves
• Electromagnetic waves DO NOT REQUIRE A MEDIUM. Examples are light waves, radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays.
• Radio waves have the lowest energy, frequency, and longest wavelength, while gamma rays have the highest energy, frequency, and shortest wavelength.
• Transverse waves are perpendicular to the direction of motion of the waves and particles oscillate up and down, while waves move horizontally. DO NOT REQUIRE A MEDIUM.
• Longitudinal waves oscillate parallel to the direction of the wave and have a series of compressions and rarefractions. Moves in the same direction as the movement of the waves.
• The particles of spring move back and forth and in the same direction as the wave propagation, called LONGITUDINAL WAVE.
• Sound waves, springs, and most fluid possess these properties of LONGITUDINAL WAVES
• A longitudinal wave causes particles of gas to move closer together or farther apart, making a gas a medium for it.
• CRESTS are the highest points or the peak of a wave.
• TROUGHS are the low points of a wave.
• WAVELENGTH is the distance between two crests or troughs
• AMPLITUDE is the distance between the resting position and the maximum displacement of a wave. Power or energy of the wave.
• Compression means that particles are close together
• Rarefraction means particles are spread out
• Greater amplitude carries more energy.
• Examples of Transverse waves:

  Water waves, electromagnetic waves (light waves, radio, and more) 
• Examples of Longitudinal waves  

  Sound waves, seismic wave