Waves

a disturbance that propagates(transmitted) from place to place carrying energy

Transverse waves- particles oscillate perpendicular to direction of propagation

Longitudinal waves- particles oscillate parallel to direction of propagation

Water waves- have properties of both wave types. particles move in a circular pattern

Crests- the highest point of the wave

Troughs- the lowest point on the wave- equal in magnitude to the crest

Wavelength- distance over which a wave repeats-λ

Speed of a wave= wavelength/period or wavelength x frequency

applies to all waves no matter what

Mechanical waves- waves that move through a medium- sound and water waves

Electromagnetic- waves that move through a vacuum- light, UV, Gamma, etc

Waves can reflect in two different ways

A wave will invert when reflected off a fixed point

A wave will remain uninverted when reflected off an unfixed point

The principle of superposition states that a resultant wave is the sum of the individual waves.

Waves combine in the same space by simply adding together

You can have constructive interference that makes a larger wave than initially.

You can have destructuve interference that makes a small wave