Waves

Wavelength: ()is the distance from one peak to the next

Frequency: (f) is how many complete waves there are per
second (passing a certain point) it is measured in hertz (Hz) 1
Hz is 1 wave per second
Amplitude: is the height of the wave
Speed: (V) how fast it goes
Period: (T) is the time it takes in a second for one complete
wave to pass a point

Formulas

Frequency = 1 / period:
(f = 1/T)
Wave speed = frequency wavelength
(v = f )
Wavelength = speed / frequency
( = V/f)
Frequency = speed / wavelength (f = V/)

Remember

Speed of light = 3 x 108 m/s

1KHz = 1000 Hz
1 MHz = 1 000 000 Hz
All waves transfer energy and information without transferring
matter

Transverse

Light and all other electromagnetic waves

Slinky
Strings/ropes
Ripples in water

In transverse waves the vibrations are at 90 degrees to the

direction energy is transferred by the wave
Longitudinal

Sound and ultrasound

Shock waves

In longitudinal waves the vibrations are along the same direction

as the wave transfers energy

Light is part of a continuous electromagnetic spectrum which

includes radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray and
gamma ray radiations and that all these waves travel at the same
speed in free space

Remember the order of the visible spectrum:

Roy G Biv Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, indigo, Violet
radiowaves
microwaves
infrared

visible light
ultraviolet

X-rays
gamma rays
radiowaves

broadcasting
communications
satellite transmissions
cooking
communications
satellite transmissions
cooking
thermal imaging
short range communications
optical fibres
television remote controls
security systems
vision
photography
illumination
security marking
fluorescent lamps
detecting forged bank notes
disinfecting water
observing the internal structure of objects
airport security scanners
medical X-rays
sterilising food and medical equipment
detection of cancer and its treatment
broadcasting
communications

microwaves
infrared

visible light

satellite transmissions
cooking
communications
satellite transmissions
cooking
thermal imaging
short range communications
optical fibres
television remote controls
security systems
vision
photography
illumination