The Nature of Waves
1. Waves Wave – repeating disturbance or movement that transfers energy through matter or space A wave will travel only as long as it has energy to carry All waves are produced by something that vibrates
2. How Waves Travel Medium – material that waves travel through; solid, liquid, gas, or combination Example: Sound travels through air Ocean waves travel through water Light and radio waves travel through space
3. Mechanical Waves Can only travel through matter Two types: Transverse Waves Compressional Waves
4. Transverse Waves Matter in the medium moves back and forth at right angles to the direction that the wave travels
5. Compressional Waves Matter in the medium moves back and forth in the same direction that the wave travels Example: sound waves (particles are pushed together and move apart – picture a coil)
6. Water Waves Not purely transverse as movement is up and down and slightly back and forth…moves in a circular motion Ocean waves are primarily formed by the wind blowing on the water causing a vibration…size of waves dependent on wind
7. Seismic Waves Combination of compressional and transverse waves Caused by earth’s crust breaking