Waves and Wave Interactions

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

Mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.

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

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

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

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave.

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of points on a wave from its rest position, indicating the wave's energy.

A transverse wave is a wave in which the motion of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel.

A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave's travel.

A crest is the highest point of a wave.