Transverse pulses and waves

• Pulse

  A single disturbance in a medium
• Transverse pulse or wave

  • The particles of the medium vibrate at 90° to the direction in which the pulse or wave moves
• Amplitude

  The maximum displacement from the position of rest of particle in the medium
• Wave

  Made up of one pulse after another
• Crest

  The 'hump' in a transverse wave
• Trough

  The 'hollow' in a transverse wave
• Continuous transverse waves

  Produced by continuous vibrations of the medium
• Vibration

  A regular to-and-fro movement (up-and-down or forwards-and-backwards)
• Rest position (equilibrium position)

  The position that a vibrating object would be in when not vibrating
• One complete vibration (oscillation)

  One complete to-and-fro movement from the rest position to the furthest point in one direction, then to the furthest point in the opposite direction, then back to the rest position
• Wavelength

  One complete vibration (or one oscillation) of the end of a slinky spring will produce one wavelength in the spring
• In phase

  Particles in a medium are vibrating perfectly in step with one another
• Out of phase

  Particles in a medium that are not vibrating perfectly in step with one another