1 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

2 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

What are transverse waves?
When the surface of this lake
is disturbed, waves spread out
across the surface of the water.
Water waves are an example
of transverse waves.
In a transverse wave, the
particles move up and down,
so the direction of their
movement is at right angles
to the direction of the wave.
Think about this boat bobbing
up and down in the same place
as the water waves pass by!

3 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

 What do transverse waves look like?
A Slinky can be used to model transverse waves, by moving
one end of the Slinky up and down.
coils vibrate
source moves up and down
up and down

direction of wave

The wave travels away from the source. The direction of the
wave is at right angles to the movement of the source.
In a transverse wave, the coils do not travel horizontally,
each coil of the Slinky just vibrates up and down.

4 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

What are the parts of a transverse wave?
Certain parts of a transverse wave have special names.
The high points of a transverse wave are called peaks and
the low points of a transverse wave are called troughs.
peak

trough
Water waves and electromagnetic waves, such as light, are
examples of transverse waves.
S waves, the secondary waves produced by earthquakes are
transverse waves, which shake the Earth from side to side.

5 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Simulation of a transverse wave

6 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Wavelength of a transverse wave
The wavelength of any wave is the distance between two
matching points on neighbouring waves.

wavelength

wavelength

wavelength
The wavelength is the same whichever two matching points
are used to measure this distance.
The symbol used to represent wavelength is .

7 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Amplitude of a transverse wave
The amplitude of any wave is the maximum distance a point
moves from its rest position.

amplitude

amplitude
The amplitude of a transverse wave is the height of a peak
or trough from the wave’s rest position of the wave.
The larger the amplitude, greater the energy of the wave.

8 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Investigating transverse waves

9 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Frequency of transverse waves
The frequency is the number of waves passing any point
each second.
 frequency = number of waves past a point / time
 frequency is measured in hertz (Hz)
 1 wave per second = 1 Hz

If this set of transverse waves pass a point in one second,

what is the frequency? 4 Hz

10 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Frequency of waves – activity

11 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

12 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006
What are longitudinal waves?

PAT ARTWORK PC14_2 Sound travels as waves made

up of vibrating air particles.
Sound waves are an example
of longitudinal waves.
In a longitudinal wave, the
particles vibrate back and forth,
so the direction of their
movement is parallel to the
direction of the wave.
Think about the hairs on this
fluffy cat vibrating backwards
and forwards, as sound waves
from the speaker pass by!

13 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

What do longitudinal waves look like?
A Slinky can be used to model longitudinal waves, by moving
one end of the Slinky left and right.
source moves coils vibrate
left and right left and right

direction of wave

The wave travels away from the source. The direction of the
wave is parallel to the movement of the source.
In a longitudinal wave, the coils do not travel horizontally,
each coil of the Slinky just vibrates left and right.

14 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

What are the parts of a longitudinal wave?
Certain parts of a longitudinal wave have special names.
Sections that are pushed together are called compressions
and that are stretched out are called rarefactions.
compression

rarefaction

Sound waves are longitudinal waves. When someone

speaks, the air particles vibrate as a longitudinal wave and
so compressions and rarefactions are formed in the air.
P waves, the primary waves produced by earthquakes, are
also longitudinal waves, which push and pull the Earth.

15 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Simulation of a longitudinal wave

16 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Wavelength of a longitudinal wave
The wavelength of any wave is the distance between two
matching points on neighbouring waves.
wavelength

wavelength

The wavelength is the same whichever two matching points

are used to measure this distance.
The symbol used to represent wavelength is .

17 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Transverse or longitudinal waves?

18 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

19 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006
How is wave speed calculated?
These waves are travelling across
the surface of a pond. The length
of each wave is 0.25 m.
Two waves pass the duck each
second, so the frequency is 2 Hz.
This means that the waves travel
0.5 m each second, so the
speed of the waves is 0.5 m/s.
From this example, the connection between speed, frequency
and wavelength is:
speed = frequency x wavelength
0.5 m/s = 2 Hz x 0.25 m
20 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006
What is the formula for wave speed?
For any set of waves, the wave speed (v) can be calculated
from the frequency (f) and wavelength () using this formula:

wave speed = frequency x wavelength

v = f x 

What are the units of speed, frequency and wavelength?

 Wave speed is measured in metres per second (m/s).

 Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz).

 Wavelength is measured in metres (m).

21 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Can I use a formula triangle?
A formula triangle helps you to rearrange a formula.
The formula triangle for wave speed (v), frequency (f)
and wavelength () is shown below.
Cover the quantity that you are trying to work out, which
gives the rearranged formula needed for the calculation.

So to find frequency (f), …which gives

cover up f… the formula…

  f =
v

x
22 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006
Calculating wave speed – example
These waves are rippling
across a pond.
The frequency of the
waves is 0.2 Hz and the
length of each wave is
estimated at 0.15 m.
What is the wave speed?

wave speed = frequency x wavelength

= 0.2 Hz x 0.15 m
= 0.03 m/s

23 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Wave speed problems

24 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

25 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006
 Glossary
 amplitude – The maximum distance any point in a wave
moves from its rest position.
 compression – A stretched-out section of a longitudinal
wave.
 frequency – The number of waves passing a point each
second. It is measured in hertz (Hz).
 longitudinal wave – A type of wave in which the particles
vibrate back and forth, which is parallel to the wave direction,
e.g. sound and P waves.
 rarefaction – A bunched-up section of a longitudinal wave.
 transverse wave – A type of wave in which the particles
vibrate up and down, which is at right angles to the wave
direction, e.g. electromagnetic, water and S waves.
 wavelength – The distance between two matching points
on neighbouring waves.
26 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006
Anagrams

27 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Multiple-choice quiz

28 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2006