Wave properties

• Transverse waves: oscillations are perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction of energy transfer.
• Longitudinal wave: A wave in which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
• Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves
• Sound waves are longitudinal waves
• Compression is an area in longitudinal waves where the particles are squashed closer together
• Rarefaction is an area in longitudinal waves where the particles are pulled further apart
• Wave amplitude?


  Maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed position (height of the wave)
• What is amplitude measured in?

  metres
• Wavelength of a wave?

  distance from a point on one wave to the equivalent point on the next wave
• Wavelength is measured in metres
• Frequency of a wave is the number of complete waves passing a point per second.
• Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz)
• Wave speed is the speed at which the energy is transferred (or the speed at which the wave moves) through a medium
• Wave speed is measured in metres per second (m/s)
• Waves transfer energy without transferring matter
• The amplitude of a wave is half the distance between its highest and lowest points
• A transverse wave has oscillations that are perpendicular to the direction of travel