Properties of Waves

• Waves transfer energy and information but do not transfer matter.
• What are the 2 types of waves?

  Transverse and Longitudinal.
• What is a transverse wave?

  A wave for which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
• What is a longitudinal wave?

  A wave for which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
• Give 2 examples of transverse waves.

  Electromagnetic waves and Seismic s-waves.
• Give 2 examples of longitudinal waves.

  Sounds waves and Seismic p-waves.
• What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?

  Compressions and Rarefractions.
• What are the two parts of a transverse wave called?

  Peaks and Troughs.
• What is a wave's amplitude?

  The maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position.
• What is a wavelength?

  The distance from a point on a wave to the same position on the adjacent wave. Most commonly peak to peak or trough to trough.
• What is the frequency of a wave?

  The number of waves that pass a given point each second.
• What is the unit used for frequency?

  Hertz, Hz.
• What is meant by a frequency of 200Hz?

  200 waves pass a given point each second.
• What is a wave speed?

  The speed at which energy is transferred through a medium.
• What does a wave transfer?

  Energy.
• What is wave velocity?

  Wave velocity (measured in metres per second) is equal to the product of the wavelength and frequency of the wave.
• State the equation used to calculate wave speed. Give appropriate units.

  Wave speed = Frequency x Wavelength

  Speed (m/s), Frequency (Hz), Wavelength (m).
• What is meant by the period of the wave?

  The length of time it takes for one full wave to pass through a point.