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