Waves

Particles and Waves:

• When waves travel through a medium (like air or water), the particles of that medium vibrate and transfer energy between each other.
• However, the particles do not move along with the wave; they just oscillate around a fixed point.

Types of Waves

Transverse Waves:

Key Features:

In transverse waves, particles move up and down while the wave moves horizontally.

Longitudinal Waves:

Key Features:

Longitudinal waves cause compressions (where particles are close together) and rarefactions (where particles are spread out).

These compressions and rarefactions move in the same direction as the wave.

Key Wave Properties:

1. Amplitude:

• The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its rest position.
• In a transverse wave, it's the height from the middle (rest) to the crest (top) or trough (bottom).

2. Wavelength:

• The wavelength is the distance between two corresponding points on adjacent waves (e.g., from crest to crest or compression to compression in longitudinal waves).

3. Frequency:

• The frequency of a wave is the number of complete cycles (waves) that pass a given point per second.
• Measured in Hertz (Hz). For example, 1 Hz = 1 wave per second.

4. Period:

• The period is the time it takes for one full cycle of the wave to pass a given point.