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1. What Waves Are:
1. What Waves Are:
A wave is a repeating disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another.
Waves do not carry matter, only energy.
2. Types of Waves:
2. Types of Waves:
Mechanical Waves – Require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through.
Mechanical Waves – Require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through.
Examples:
Sound waves (travel through air)
Water waves (travel through water)
Seismic waves (travel through Earth)
Electromagnetic Waves – Do not require a medium; can travel through space.
Electromagnetic Waves – Do not require a medium; can travel through space.
Examples:
Light
Radio waves
X-rays
3. Properties of Waves:
3. Properties of Waves:
Wavelength –
Distance from one crest to the next (or one compression to the next).
Frequency –
How many waves pass a point in a second (measured in Hertz, Hz).
Wavelength and energy have an inverse relationship: the shorter the wavelength, the higher the energy; meaning as wavelength increases, energy decreases, and vice versa.
Amplitude –
Height of the wave; related to the energy of the wave. More amplitude, means more energy.
Speed –
How fast a wave travels, depends on the medium.
4. Types of Wave Motion
4. Types of Wave Motion
Transverse Waves
Transverse Waves
Particles move perpendicular to the wave motion. Examples: Light waves, ocean waves, stadium waves, radio and microwaves.
Longitudinal Waves
Longitudinal Waves
Particles move parallel to the wave motion. Example: Sound waves.
5. Wave Behavior
5. Wave Behavior
Reflection
Waves bounce off surfaces (e.g., echo of sound, light in a mirror).
Diffraction
Waves spread out when passing through an opening or around an object.
Interference – Waves can combine, creating constructive (bigger waves) or destructive (smaller waves) interference.
Destructive Interference
Destructive Interference
Interference – Waves can combine, creating constructive (bigger waves) or destructive (smaller waves) interference.
6. Sound Waves vs. Light Waves
6. Sound Waves vs. Light Waves
Sound Waves
Sound Waves
Mechanical, longitudinal, need a medium, travel faster in solids than in air.
Light Waves
Light Waves
Electromagnetic, transverse, do not need a medium, travel fastest in a vacuum.
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