Wave Properties

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter.

The two main types of waves are mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.

A mechanical wave is a wave that requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through.

An electromagnetic wave is a wave that can travel through a vacuum and does not require a medium.

The amplitude of a wave is the maximum height of the wave from its rest position.

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points that are in phase on a wave, such as crest to crest or trough to trough.

Frequency is the number of waves that pass a given point in one second, measured in hertz (Hz).

Frequency and wavelength are inversely related; as frequency increases, wavelength decreases, and vice versa.

The speed of a wave is the distance traveled by a wave in a given amount of time, calculated as speed = wavelength × frequency.

A sound wave is a mechanical wave that is created by vibrating objects and travels through a medium.