Types of Waves

Types of Waves

Compression & Transverse​

By Nicholas Carrillo

The max distance from a wave's crest, or trough, to it's midline is its amplitude.

Subject | Subject

Image Source

The length of a wave is its wavelength​

Image Source

How many cycles a wave repeat per second is its frequency.

Subject | Subject

Image Source

Multiple Choice

The length of a wave is called its...

• wavelength

• frequency

• amplitude

Multiple Choice

How often the wave repeats per second is called its...

• wavelength

• frequency

• amplitude

Multiple Choice

The max distance from a wave's crest, or trough, to its midline is its...

• wavelength

• frequency

• amplitude

The Speed of the wave is the product of its wavelength and frequency.

Subject | Subject

Image Source

A wave with a wavelength of 0.2 m, and a frequency of 3 Hz has a speed of 0.6 m/s

Subject | Subject

Image Source

Waves come in two -types

• Transverse Waves

  ​

  ​

• Longitudinal (Compression) Waves​

Subject | Subject

Transverse waves' displacement is perpendicular to its direction of motion.

Subject | Subject

Image Source

Longitudinal (Compression) waves' displacement is along its direction of motion.

Subject | Subject

Image Source

Multiple Choice

What kind of wave is in the image?

• Longitudinal (Compression)

• Transverse

Multiple Choice

What kind of wave is in the image?

• Longitudinal (Compression)

• Transverse

​Click Me!

Click on link to watch a short video on different types of waves

Multiple Choice

Which description best describes the differences between the two waves.

• One is caused by compressing one end of the slinky, while the other is caused by moving the end of the slinky.

• The compression waves travels faster than the other wave.

• One wave has a longer wavelength than the other wave.

Multiple Choice

Which option best describes what happens to the waves when they reach the other end of the slinky?

• Both waves reflect back, but one of the waves 'flips.'

• One wave reflects back, the other slows down and then reflects back

• The compression wave reflects back, and the other wave's frequency becomes negative.

Open Ended

Describe the two different wave types you observed. Use terms like compression, and displacement to help describe the wave types.