1. The Nature of Waves

2. 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

3. 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

4. 3. Mechanical Waves Can only travel through matter Two types:
Transverse Waves
Compressional Waves

5. 4. Transverse Waves
Matter in the medium moves back and forth at right angles to the direction that the wave travels

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 7. Seismic Waves Combination of compressional and transverse waves
Caused by earth’s crust breaking