Wave Notes
- Waves
- Rhythmic disturbance that carries energy
- Wavelength
- Distance between a point on a wave and the identical point on the next wave.
- Period
- Time required for one wavelength to pass
- Frequency
- Number of waves passing per second. The unit of measure is hertz (Hz).
- Amplitude
- Greatest distance of a wave's rise or fall
- Transverse Wave
- The disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel
- Longitudinal Wave (Compression Wave)
- The disturbance is parallel to the direction of wave travel
- Wave Velocity
- Wave velocity is the distance a wave travels per second.
- wavelength
-
velocity / frequency
- λ = velocity / frequency
- Example:
- The musical note middle C has a frequency = 262 Hz. The velocity of sound in air is 343 m/s.
- λ = velocity / frequency
- wavelength = 343 m/s / 262 Hz = 1.31 meters
- velocity = wavelength x frequency