Properties of Waves Flashcards
Complete this sentence .
Waves transfer ____ and _____ but
do not transfer
_____Waves transfer energy and information
but do not transfer matter
What are the two types of waves?
- Transverse
2. Longitudinal
What is a transverse wave?
A wave for which the oscillations are
perpendicular to the direction of energy
transfer.
What is a longitudinal wave?
A wave for which the oscillations are
parallel to the direction of energy
transfer
Give two examples of transverse waves
- Electromagnetic waves
2. Seismic s-waves
Give two examples of longitudinal waves.
- Sound waves
2. Seismic p-waves
What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?
Compressions and rarefactions
What are the two parts of a transverse wave called?
Peaks and troughs
What is a wave’s amplitude?
The maximum displacement of a point
on a wave from its undisturbed position
What is wavelength?
● The distance from a point on a wave to the same position on the adjacent wave ● Most commonly peak to peak or trough to trough
What is the frequency of a wave?
The number of waves that pass a given
point each second
What is the unit used for frequency?
Hertz, Hz
What is meant by a frequency of 200Hz?
200 waves pass a given point each
second.
What is wave speed?
The speed at which energy is transferred
through a medium
What does a wave transfer?
Energy
