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Success Criteria:
I can describe what a mechanical wave is
I can compare the similarities and differences between longitudinal and transverse waves, giving some examples of each
Fun Fact:
Light does not require a medium to travel through. It can transmit across the vacuum of space!
Key terms
Mechanical wave require a medium (a physical substance) to transmit (carry or transfer) energy. Water waves use water molecules, sound waves use air.
Oscillate moving about an average position in a regular, repetitive or periodic pattern.
Transverse waves particles within a medium oscillate up and down in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave.
Longitudinal waves the oscillation of particles within a medium are parallel, or in the same direction of the motion of the wave.
Crest maximum positive displacement of a particle in a transverse wave.
Trough maximum negative position of a particle in a transverse wave.
Compression areas in a medium where particle are squished together in a longitudinal wave.
Rarefactions areas in the medium where particles become more spread apart in a longitudinal wave.
Learning Tasks
Chapter 2.1 key questions p.63 of textbook
slinky demonstration
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