Characteristics of

Waves
 What are Waves?
• Rhythmic disturbances that
repeat the same cycle of mo
tion and transfer energy
• Two Types: Electromagnetic
and Mechanical
 Parts of a Wave
• The crest is the highest point
on a wave.
 Trough
• Valley between two waves, is t
he lowest point.
 Wavelength (λ)
• The horizontal distance, either
between the crests or troughs
of two consecutive waves.
 Wave Height
• A vertical distance between a
wave's crest and the next trou
gh.
 Amplitude
• - The peak (greatest) value (either
positive or negative) of a wave.
• The distance from the equalibrium
(rest point) to the trough or crest.
 Energy
• In mechanical waves energy is directly proporti
onal to the square of the amplitude.
• In electromagnetic waves, energy is carried in p
hotons (little packets of energy)
• Energy in electromagnetic wave is proportional
to the waves frequency.
 Frequency (f )
• Is the number of complete waves or cycles of o
scillation in a given period of time
• Measured is hertz
• Period- is the time it takes to complete one full
cycle.
• Measured in seconds
 Wave Speed
• A measure of how fast a wave is moving.
• For mechanical waves it depends on the st
ate of matter
 Electromagnetic Waves
• Waves that do not need a medium
(matter) to travel in.
–Can travel in a vacuum (like oute
r space) as well as air, water and
glass, but can be absorbed by o
paque materials
–Light, X-rays, Radio Waves
Electromagnetic Spectrum
 Mechanical Waves
• Waves that use matter to transfer
energy:
• Travel through air, as well as s
olids, liquids and other gases.
• No matter, no wave…..like in o
uter space.
 Transverse Waves
• Type of mechanical wave
• Wave energy causes the matter in the
medium to move up and down or bac
k and forth at right angles to the direct
ion the wave travels.
 Longitudinal or Compressi
onal Wave
• Type of Mechanical Wave
• Matter in the medium moves forward
and backward along the same directio
n that the wave travels.
–Slinky