Wave

• Waves


  Transfer energy from one place to another via vibration / oscillations
• The speed of the sound underwater

  1500m/s
• The speed of the sound in the air

  340m/s
• Amplitude


  The distance from middle to either crest or trough.

  The higher the amplitude the louder the sound wave
• Wavelength


  The distance of one entire oscillation
• Crest


  The very top of a wave
• Trough


  The opposite of the crest
• Time period


  The time it takes for one complete oscillation
• Frequency


  The number of complete oscillations per second, measured in hertz.

  The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch.
• Calculating frequency


  1 / time period
• Calculating time period


  1 / frequency
• Calculating wave speed


  Wavelength x frequency
• Transverse waves


  • Oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
  • Examples: electromagnetic waves, water waves, string waves
• Longitudinal waves


  • Oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
  • Examples: sound waves, seismic p-waves
• Mechanical waves are waves that travel through a medium(requires particles) and are not affected by the material they are passing through
• Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium to pass through and can be absorbed or reflected by materials.
• Compression is the particles that are closer together in longitudinal waves. Compression has higher pressure and higher frequency.
• Rarefaction is when the particles are further apart than normal in longitudinal waves. Rarefaction has lower pressure and lower frequency.