Making Waves

Key Objectives:Key Objectives:

Investigate and understand the nature and describe the characteristics of two types of waves.– Transverse Waves– Longitudinal Waves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27a26e2CnuM

Model, label and draw diagrams of each.

Key TermsKey Terms

Wave Wavelength Frequency Transverse Wave Amplitude Crest Trough Longitudinal Wave Compression Rarefaction

Wave

A disturbance that carries energy away from its source through matter or empty space.

Three categories:– Mechanical Waves– Electromagnetic

Waves– Matter Waves

Transverse Wave

A type of wave that can travel through both a medium or empty space.

The energy moves perpendicular to the direction of the wave.– Light– Water

Longitudinal Wave

A type of wave that must travel through a medium.

The energy moves parallel to the direction of the wave– Sound

All Waves

Wavelength

The length of the wave.

Measured from two identical points on a wave

Frequency

The number of waves counted in a specific period of time. (per second)– Measured in Hertz

(Hz)

Amplitude

In a transverse wave: The height or depth or difference from the rest point to the peak of a wave

In a longitudinal wave: The density/thickness of the compression

The Transverse Wave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHcse1jJAto

Crest

The top point of a transverse wave

Trough

The lowest point of a transverse wave

The Longitudinal Wave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRlaCCQfDk&feature=related

Compression

The densest/thick part of a longitudinal wave

Rarefaction

The spaced out section of a longitudinal wave between each compression

Essential Learnings

All waves exhibit certain characteristics– Wavelength refers to the length of a wave

or distance between two identical points on a wave (Length)

– Frequency refers to the amount of waves in a period of time (Speed)

– Amplitude refers to the size of the energy wave (Strength)

Essential Learnings

Wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency.– Wavelength increases Frequency

decreases– Frequency increases Wavelength

decreases

Essential Learnings

Transverse Waves – Energy travels perpendicular to the

wave– Do not require a medium– Amplitude is the distance from the

rest position to the crest or trough of the wave.

– Light travels in Transverse Waves

Essential Learnings

Longitudinal Waves – Energy travels parallel to the wave– The portion of this wave where it is

crowded together is called the compression

– The portion where the space between compressions is greatest is called the rarefaction.

Essential Learnings

Longitudinal Waves – Requires a medium– Wavelength is the distance from one

compression to the next compression of the wave.

– Sound being produced by vibrations travels in Longitudinal Waves

Essential Learnings

Fin