Mechanical Waves

© Kesler Science, LLC

Properties of Waves

Two Types of
Mechanical Waves

• Waves are classified

according to how they travel
through a medium
•Transverse Waves (A)
•Longitudinal Waves (B)

A

B

What are the two
types of mechanical
waves?

© Kesler Science, LLC

Properties of Waves
Transverse Waves

• Waves that move through

the medium at right angles
to the direction the waves
are traveling.

• Transverse means “across”

• As a transverse wave moves

in one direction, the particles
of the medium move
perpendicular to the
direction of the wave, or
across it.

Direction of wave

Direction of

medium

Right Angle

What does

perpendicular

mean?

© Kesler Science, LLC

Properties of Waves

Transverse Wave
Vocabulary

• Crest – where the displacement

of the medium is at a maximum

• Trough – where the

displacement of the medium is at
a minimum

• Rest position – where the

medium shows no disturbance.

Trough

Rest

Position

Crest

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Properties of Waves

Amplitude

•The vertical distance
between a peak or a
valley and the resting
position in a transverse
wave.

Amplitude

Amplitude

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Properties of Waves
Properties (cont.)

Wavelength

•The distance between two
corresponding parts of a
wave

•Crest to crest or trough
to trough (transverse
wave)

Wavelength

Wavelength

Wavelength

Multiple Select

Which of the following are the types of mechanical waves?

• longitudinal

• latitudinal

• transverse

• reverse

Multiple Choice

What kind of wave is pictured?

• longitudinal

• transverse

Multiple Choice

What kind of wave is pictured?

• longitudinal

• transverse

Multiple Choice

In a transverse wave, the particles move ____ as the wave moves ____.

• up and down/left to right

• left to right/up and down

• up and down/up and down

• left to right/left to right

Multiple Choice

The point of maximum displacement is the ____.

• crest

• trough

• rest position

Multiple Choice

The vertical distance between between the crest or trough and the resting position is called _____

• amplitude

• wavelength

• perpendicular

• displacement

Multiple Choice

The distance from crest to crest is called ____.

• amplitude

• trough

• wavelength

• perpendicular