Waves

• What are the two main categories of waves?

  Transverse waves and longitudinal waves
• What is an example of a transverse wave?

  Ripples on the surface of water
• What is an example of a longitudinal wave?


  Sound waves traveling in air
• What do all waves transfer?


  Energy from one place to another
• What type of energy do ripples transfer?


  Kinetic energy
• What type of energy do sound waves transfer?


  Sound energy
• What are the characteristics of transverse waves?

  • Oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
  • Example: Ripples on the surface of water
• What are the characteristics of longitudinal waves?


  • Oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
  • Example: Sound waves traveling through air
  • Compressions and rarefactions are present
• What are compressions in a longitudinal wave?


  Regions where particles are very close together
• What are rarefactions in a longitudinal wave?

  Regions where particles are spaced out
• What is a key difference between transverse and longitudinal waves regarding the medium?


  Longitudinal waves require a medium to travel in, while not all transverse waves do
• What is a crucial fact about the movement of waves?


  It is the wave that travels, not the medium
• How do transverse waves behave in a medium like water?

  • The wave travels while the water molecules oscillate up and down
  • Water molecules do not travel along with the wave
• How do longitudinal waves behave in a medium like air?


  • The wave travels while air particles oscillate from side to side
  • Air particles do not travel along with the wave
• Where can students find more questions on transverse and longitudinal waves?


  In the revision workbook linked in the video
• What should you be able to describe by the end of the video on wave motion?


  Wave motion in terms of amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period