Wave Properties &

Types of Waves

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 Wave
• Wave - Rhythmic disturbance that
carries energy through matter and
space
• ALL WAVES CARRY ENERGY!
• Pulse – one wave that travels
through a medium
• Continuous waves – waves that
repeatedly move up and down
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 Transverse Waves
• Transverse waves – matter
in the medium moves back
and forth at right angles to
the direction that the wave
travels.

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 Parts of a Transverse Wave

• Crest – top of a wave

• Trough – bottom of a wave
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 Parts of a Transverse Wave

• Amplitude – ½ the height of a wave

• Relates to the amount of energy
carried by the wave
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Parts of a Transverse Wave

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 Parts of a Transverse Wave

• Wavelength – the length of one

cycle of a wave
• Abbreviated by using the symbol, λ
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 Transverse Wave
• Frequency – how many
cycles (waves) are
completed in a given time
(usually 1 second)

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 Compression/
Longitudinal Waves
• Compressional waves – matter
in the medium moves in the
same direction that the wave
travels. Example: Sound
waves

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Parts of a compression wave

Compression – the area where the

particles are more dense

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 Parts of a compression wave
Rarefaction – The less dense area of the wave

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 Parts of a compression wave
Wavelength – One complete cycle of a wave

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 Surface Waves
• both transverse & compressional;

• examples: water waves,

seismic waves

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 Medium
• Most waves need something
to travel on (or through)
• The substance through
which a wave travels is a
medium

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 Standing Waves
• Appear to be standing still
• Standing waves are caused
by two waves continuously
interfering with each
other.

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Types of Waves…

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 Reflection
• The angle at which a ray
strikes a surface is equal
to the angle at which it is
reflected

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Reflection

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Reflection

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Reflection

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Reflection

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 Period and Frequency
• Period (T) – time it takes for
one wave to pass
• The unit of a period is the
second (s)
• Frequency (f) – the number of
waves that pass each second
• The unit of frequency is Hertz
(Hz)
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 Formula 1
• Frequency = 1/ period
• f = 1/T

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 Formula 2
• Frequency = # waves / time
• f = # waves / t

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 Formula 3
• Speed = frequency x
wavelength
•S = f x λ

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