amplitude


DEFINITION

height or “strength” of a wave

amplitude

You may have seen waves on the surface of a sea or ocean. Waves have high and low points. Big waves have a lot of power and strength. The height or strength of a wave is called its amplitude. It is the distance from the wave’s rest position to its high point or low point.

amplitude

The motion of transverse waves creates crests and troughs. Amplitude is the height of the wave. It is the distance from the resting position of the wave to the crest and the resting position to the trough.

frequency

DEFINITION

 

the number of cycles a wave completes in a period of time; the number of times something happens in a period of time

frequency

Different musical instruments produce different frequencies. A tuba has a very low frequency, while a piano can produce high frequency notes.

Flutist: A flute produces sound which has a high frequency.

frequency

The number of times sound vibrates in a given amount of time is called frequency. Frequency is measured in hertz.

 

 

longitudinal waves

 

DEFINITION

a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium move parallel to the direction of the wave

longitudinal waves

Waves in which the motion of the individual particles of the medium is in a direction that is parallel to the direction of energy transport (in a horizontal motion) are called longitudinal waves.

 

 

transverse waves


DEFINITION

a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium are displaced perpendicularly to the direction of the wave

transverse waves

Transverse waves are produced when the displacement of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.



 

 

Transverse Waves: Crest, Trough, Amplitude, Wavelength

Waves carry energy. The characteristics of transverse waves are explained.

 

 

wave speed

DEFINITION

 

the speed at which a wave travels, calculated by the frequency multiplied by the wavelength

 

Wave speed equals frequency times wavelength (v = f • λ). Therefore, electromagnetic (EM) waves with longer wavelengths have lower frequencies, and EM waves with shorter wavelengths have higher frequencies. All waves of the EM spectrum travel at approximately the same wave speed: the speed of light, about 3.0 × 108 m/s.

wavelength

DEFINITION

the distance between one peak and the next on a wave

wavelength

 

You may have seen waves on the surface of a sea or an ocean. These waves have high and low points. The distance between one high point and the next one is called wavelength. If the wavelength is small, the waves are closer together.

 

 

wavelength

The distance between two successive crests or troughs of a sound wave is called the wavelength.

 

Flute: The wavelength of the sound wave produced by a flute can be changed by opening and closing the holes in the flute.
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