Waves

Waves

Wave

a disturbance that transfers ENERGY without transferring matter.

Multiple Choice

Waves transfer

• Matter

• Energy

• Particles

• Water

There are two types of waves:

1.) Mechanical waves: require a medium (matter) to travel.

2.) Electromagnetic (EM) waves: do NOT require a medium to travel.

1. Mechanical Waves

a. ) Transverse: particles move perpendicular (+) to the direction the wave travels.

Ex: ocean waves

b.) Longitudinal (compressional): particles move parallel (=) to the direction the wave travels.

Ex: sound waves

Multiple Choice

An ocean wave is an example of...

• a transverse mechanical wave

• a longitudinal mechanical wave

Multiple Choice

A wave whose particles move parallel to the direction the wave travels is a...

• transverse mechanical wave

• longitudinal mechanical wave

2.) Electromagnetic (EM) Waves

A waves that does NOT require a medium (matter to travel), has an electric field component and a magnetic field component.

Travels at the speed of light 3.0 x 10⁸ m/s in a vacuum.

Ex: Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible Light, Ultraviolet,

X-rays, and Gamma Rays

Multiple Select

Which waves require a medium (matter) to travel?

• Radio waves

• Ocean waves

• Sound Waves

• X-Rays

• Visible Light

Characteristics of Waves

Characteristics

Transverse waves:

Crest: highest point of a wave


Trough: lowest point of a wave

Multiple Choice

Which letter is represents the crest?

• A

• B

• C

• D

• E

Characteristics continued...

Longitudinal waves

Compression: region where particles are closest together

Rarefaction: region where particles are farthest apart

Characteristics continued...

Wavelength (λ): the distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave.

Amplitude: the distance the particles in a medium move away from their resting position. 

HIGHER AMPLITUDE = HIGHER ENERGY

Multiple Choice

Which letter is represents amplitude?

• A

• B

• C

• D

• E

Open Ended

Given what you have just learned, why are tsunamis so dangerous?

Multiple Select

Which points represent one wavelength? Select all that apply.

• E --> J

• D--> I

• B --> E

• A --> D

• A --> F

Characteristics continued...

Period (T): The time required for one wavelength.

Frequency (f): The number of cycles in a given amount of time (usually 1 second). Measured in Hertz (Hz).

HIGHER FREQUENCY = HIGHER ENERGY

Frequency and Wavelength Relationship

Frequency and wavelength are INVERSELY related....

low frequency = long wavelength

high frequency = short wavelength

Multiple Choice

A wave with a high frequency has...

• a long wavelength

• a short wavelength

Multiple Choice

Waves with the highest energy have...

• short wavelength, high frequency, and large amplitude

• long wavelength, low frequency, and short amplitude