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A wave is a repeating disturbance that travels through matter or space transferring only energy. Below is a model of a wave. A wave’s crest is its highest point, and its trough is its lowest point. A wave’s amplitude is the maximum distance (positive or negative) a wave reaches from its rest position. Wavelength is the distance between the ...
- Wave properties (video)
Wave properties. Waves are disturbances that travel,...
- Wave properties review (article)
A wave is a repeating disturbance that travels through...
- Wave properties (video)
Longitudinal Wave: A longitudinal wave has the movement of the particles in the medium in the same dimension as the direction of movement of the wave. Examples of longitudinal waves: Sound waves. P-type earthquake waves. Compression wave. Parts of longitudinal waves: Compression: where the particles are close together.
- 140 min
- A wave is a disturbance in a medium that carries energy without a net movement of particles. It may take the form of elastic deformation, a variati...
- Frequency of a wave is the number of waves passing a point in a certain time. The unit of frequency is hertz (Hz) which is equal to one wave per se...
- Amplitude is the maximum displacement from the neutral position. This represents the energy of the wave. Greater amplitude carries greater energy.
- Electromagnetic waves are the disturbance that does not need any object medium for propagation and can easily travel through the vacuum. They are p...
- Radio signals, light rays, x-rays, and cosmic rays are some of the examples of electromagnetic waves.
Wave properties. Waves are disturbances that travel, transferring energy without moving matter. They have key characteristics like period, wavelength, and frequency. The speed of a wave can be affected by its type and the medium it travels through. There are two main types of waves: mechanical, which need a medium to travel through, and ...
- 7 min
- Khan Academy
People also ask
What are the characteristics of a wave?
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What are the properties of a periodic wave?
The speed of propagation vw is the distance the wave travels in a given time, which is one wavelength in a time of one period. In equation form, it is written as. vw = fλ. v w = f λ. From this relationship, we see that in a medium where vw is constant, the higher the frequency, the smaller the wavelength.
- Overview
- Key points:
- Transverse waves
- Longitudinal waves
- How to understand the wave speed equation
- How waves transport energy
- Common mistakes and misconceptions
- Learn more
Review your understanding of wave properties.
•A wave is a repeating disturbance that travels through matter or space transferring only energy.
•Below is a model of a wave.
•A wave’s crest is its highest point, and its trough is its lowest point.
•A wave’s amplitude is the maximum distance (positive or negative) a wave reaches from its rest position.
•Wavelength is the distance between the same spot on two sections of a wave.
•A wave is a repeating disturbance that travels through matter or space transferring only energy.
•Below is a model of a wave.
•A wave’s crest is its highest point, and its trough is its lowest point.
•A wave’s amplitude is the maximum distance (positive or negative) a wave reaches from its rest position.
•Wavelength is the distance between the same spot on two sections of a wave.
•A wave’s frequency can be measured by how many crests (or how many troughs) pass a location in a certain amount of time.
Transverse waves vibrate the particles of a medium perpendicularly to the direction of wave travel to produce the features shown in Figure 1 below.
[What's the difference between the crest and the amplitude?]
Longitudinal waves form when the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth in the same direction of the traveling wave. The wave can be visualized as compressions and expansions travelling along the medium. The distance between adjacent compressions is the wavelength.
The speed v of a wave is constant for any unchanging medium, so frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional. The wave speed equation is not a new equation, it’s just a different way of writing
v=Δxt
which we can rearrange to get
Δx=vt
Wavelength λ is the distance that a wave crest (or trough) travels over one period T . We can write period in terms of frequency f . Let’s make these substitutions to get:
λ=vTλ=vf
Waves carry energy through a medium. Any displacement of the wave is resisted by a directly proportional restoring force. The work to produce a big wave amplitude requires both large forces and displacements, which results in more wave energy.
Therefore, energy transported by a wave increases with the wave amplitude.
Sometimes people forget that the only way to change wave speed is to change the properties of the wave medium. For example, waves on a string travel faster if you increase the tension of the string. Sound waves travel faster if you increase the temperature of the air. Changing the frequency or amplitude of the waves will not change the wave speed, ...
For deeper explanations of wave characteristics, see the video on properties of periodic waves.
To check your understanding and work toward mastering these concepts, check out our exercises:
•Characteristics of longitudinal and transverse waves
•Calculating wave speed, frequency, and wavelength
•Calculating frequency and wavelength from displacement graphs
•Wave energy from graphs
Learn about and revise wave properties, calculations involving waves and measuring the speed of sound with GCSE Bitesize Combined Science.
Jan 11, 2023 · Waves are ubiquitous phenomena in nature and technology. In this chapter, you will learn the basic concepts and properties of waves, such as wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and speed. You will also explore different types of waves, such as transverse, longitudinal, and standing waves, and how they relate to sound and light. This chapter will prepare you for the more advanced topics of ...
