Waves include Transverse Waves Crests Troughs Longitudinal Waves Compressions Rarefactions Surface Waves Combinations of transverse and longitudinal waves

Properties of Waves There are four basic properties of Waves 1. Amplitude 2. Frequency 3. Wavelength 4. Speed

Below is a picture of a transverse wave

Amplitude Is the maximum distance from the rest to the top of the wave. Rest Position It is a direct measurement of the waves energy.

Click the waves Amplitude of a longitudinal wave is a measure of the distance between wavelengths

Wavelength Is the distance between two corresponding parts of a transverse wave. Rest

In a Longitudinal wave you measure from one compression to the next.

Waves have different Frequencies! If this shows waves in one second, count a different number for each wave

Visible light is only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum (all forms of light).

LIGHT behaves as if it were composed of "units" or "packets" of energy that travel in waves. The wavelength of light determines its color.

Wavelength and Frequency As a wavelength increases the frequency decreases. As a wavelength decreases the frequency increases. Frequency is measured in waves per second long Wavelength short low Hi Frequency Inverse or Indirect Relationship