​Waves Intro Review

• ​Waves are disturbances carrying energy.

• ​Transverse waves have vibrations moving perpendicular to the energy flow.

• ​Longitudinal waves have energy and vibrations in same direction

​Amplitude and Energy

• The amount of energy moving through a medium determines the size of the wave.

• A small amount of energy will create a smaller disturbance hence, smaller wave. A large amount of energy will create a larger disturbance and wave.

• Waves with more energy have higher amplitudes. Waves with less energy have lower amplitudes.

• ​High amplitude=high energy.

• Amplitude does NOT affect frequency, wavelength or the wave speed.

​Wave Speed

• ​Wave travels at different speed depending on the medium it is in.

• ​Mechanical waves travel fastest in solid medium as the particles are closer together to vibrate more.

• Mechanical Waves travel faster in Liquids than in gases (think of delay between lightning and thunder)

​Wavength, Frequency and Energy

• ​As wavelength increases, less waves will pass an area per second. Hence, frequency decreases.

• ​Less waves moving over an area per second means less energy being transferred.

• ​Higher frequencies means waves are passing quicker so more energy.

• More waves passing in a second means the distance between them is shorter, hence, shorter wavelength.

• ​​Shorter Wavelength = higher the frequency = greater energy.

• Longer wavelengths = lower the frequency = lower energy.

​Wavelength, Wave speed and Frequency Relationship

• ​Frequency is INVERSELY proportional to Wavelength.

• Therefore, doubling one means halving the other.

• ​​This will NOT affect the wave speed. That is, doubling frequency or wavelength will produce the SAME wave speed.

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• ​Wave speed= Frequency x Wavelength

​The only way to change the wave speed is to change the medium.