Waves can transfer energy from one place to another through either transverse or longitudinal vibrations. Transverse waves vibrate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer, while longitudinal waves vibrate parallel to it. Waves are described by their amplitude, wavelength, and frequency - with amplitude being the maximum displacement from equilibrium, wavelength the distance between equivalent points on consecutive waves, and frequency the number of waves passing a point per second. The relationship between wavelength, frequency, and wave speed is defined by the wave equation.

1. Properties of Waves

2. What are waves
• A means of transferring energy from one place
to another.
• Two types of wave:
– Transverse, (eg light waves, water waves)
– Longitudinal, (eg sound waves)

3. Transverse Waves
• Vibrates or oscillates at right angles to the
direction in which the energy is moving.

4. Longitudinal Waves
• Vibrations or oscillations are along the
direction in which the energy is moving

5. Describing Waves
• Three ways to describe a wave:
Amplitude (A)
Wavelength (λ)
Frequency (f)

6. Amplitude
• Waves cause particles in a substance to move
from their resting position.
• The maximum movement of the particles
from this position is called the Amplitude (A).

7. Wavelength
• The distance from a point on one wave and
the corresponding point on the next (eg from
crest to crest) is called the Wavelength (λ).
• Wavelength is measure in metres (m).

8. Frequency
• The number of waves produced each second,
or passing a particular point each second is
called the Frequency of the wave (f).
• Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).

9. Wave Period
• The time it takes for a source to produce one
wave is called the period (T) of the wave.
• It can be calculated from the frequency:
T= 1
frequency

10. The Wave Equation
• There is a relationship between the
wavelength (λ), the frequency (f) and the
wave speed (v):
Wave speed = frequency x wavelength
v =fxλ
v
• The wave speed is
measured in metres per f X λ
second (m/s)