Wave Basics

• Waves


  Transfer energy from one place to another without transferring any matter (stuff)
• Waves


  • Transfer energy in the direction they are travelling
  • When waves travel through a medium, the particles of the medium oscillate and transfer energy between each other, but overall the particles stay in the same place - only energy is transferred
• Waves


  • Ripples forming on the surface of a calm pool of water when a twig is dropped in
  • Sound waves created by strumming a guitar string
• Amplitude


  The maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed position
• Wavelength


  The distance between the same point on two adjacent waves (e.g. between the trough of one wave and the trough of the wave next to it)
• Frequency


  The number of complete waves passing a certain point per second, measured in hertz (Hz)
• Period


  The amount of time it takes for a full cycle of the wave to pass a point, calculated as 1/frequency
• 1 Hz is 1 wave per second