AKS 9a, b, and d Review

Small amplitude = low energy

Large amplitude = high energy

Measured from the rest position to the crest or trough of the wave

It is difficult to show amplitude on this wave.

Amplitude of a longitudinal wave is related to how tightly packed the compressions are.

The tighter the packing = greater amplitude

Wavelength is the distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave

The distance between two adjacent crests

OR the distance between two adjacent troughs

The distance between two adjacent rarefactions

OR the distance between two adjacent compressions

The shorter the wavelength the greater the energy

OR the longer the wavelength the lower the energy

They are inversely proportional

The symbol for wavelength is the Greek letter lamda--> λ

The number of vibrations (waves, cycles) that occur per second

Unit is Hertz (Hz)

1 Hz = one wave per second

High frequency carry high energy

Frequency is measured by the number of crests OR troughs that pass a certain point over a certain amount of time

To find the frequency, count the number of compressions or rarefactions.

​The speed at which they travel depends on either the type of wave or the medium they are in.

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​They travel fastest in more dense medium. Therefore, they move fastest in solids and slowest in gases.

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​Generally, these have longer wavelengths than electromagnetic waves.

​All electromagnetic waves travels at the speed of light 3.0 x 10⁸ m/s in a VACUUM. However, they travels at different speeds when traveling through matter.

They travel fastest in less dense medium, so fastest in gases and slowest in solids.

Ex: Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible Light, Ultraviolet, X-rays, and Gamma Ray.