1. Waves
Lesson 2:
Pgs

2. Basic Properties of Waves
Amplitude
Wavelength
Frequency
Speed

3. Amplitude
Amplitude is the maximum distance the particles of the medium carrying the wave move away from their rest positions.
The farther the medium moves as it vibrates the larger the amplitude of the resulting waves. The greater the amplitude the greater the amount of energy

4. Amplitude of transverse waves
The amplitude of a transverse wave is the maximum distance the medium moves up or down from its rest position. You can find the amplitude of a transverse wave by measuring the distance from rest to crest or rest to trough.

5. Diagram

6. Amplitude of a longitudinal wave.
The amplitude of a longitudinal wave is a measure of how compressed or rarefied the medium becomes.

7. Wavelength
A wave travels a certain distance before it starts to repeat. The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave is its wavelength.
Transverse measure from crest to crest or trough to trough.
Longitudinal measure from one compression to the next.

8. Diagram

9. Frequency
The number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time.
Or, the number of vibrations per second.
Frequency measured in hertz (Hz).

10. Diagram

11. Speed
The speed, wavelength, and frequency of a wave are related to each other by a mathematical formula.
Speed = wavelength x frequency
Frequency = speed/wavelength
Wavelength = speed/frequency

12. So, how do you calculate the speed of waves?

13. Equations

14. Let’s practice!

15. Answer Check
Multiply the frequency by the wavelength to determine the speed.
Row 1: speed = 3.5 m/sRow 2: speed = 3.5 m/s
Row 3: speed = 2.5 m/s
Row 4: speed = 2.5 m/s
Row 5: speed = 2.1 m/s
Row 6: speed = 2.2 m/s