Waves - Basic

Question 1

What are waves?

Answer 1

Waves are one of the ways in which energy may be transferred between stores.

Question 2

How can waves be described?

Answer 2

Waves can be described as oscillations, or vibrations about a rest position. E.g sound waves cause air particles to vibrate back and forth or ripples cause water particles to vibrate up and down

Question 3

What direction do oscillations travel?

Answer 3

The direction of these oscillations is the difference between longitudinal or transverse waves. In longitudinal waves, the vibrations are parallel to the direction of wave travel. In transverse waves, the vibrations are at right angles to the direction of wave travel.

Question 4

REMEMBER!!

Answer 4

All waves transfer energy but they do not transfer matter.