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Chapter 23 Characteristics of Waves
I.
Nature of Waves
A. Introduction
A wave is a traveling disturbance that carries energy from one place
to another. They are found in all lakes, ponds, oceans, and rivers.
B. Waves and Energy
1. Waves do not actually carry water, the water actually moves up
and down.
2. The disturbance moves outward along the surface of the water as
a series of waves.
3. Waves carry energy.
C. Where Do Waves Get Energy
1. Any movement that follows the same path is a vibration.
2. Vibrations are cool things…. That causes waves.
YUP 
II.
Characteristics of Wave
A. Amplitude
1. If a wave disturbs a medium, the particles of the medium are moved from their
normal positions.
2. In any wave, the amount of movement form rest is called the amplitude.
3. The amount of energy carried by a wave depends on both its amplitude and
frequency.
B. Wavelength
1. The distance between two consecutive crests or trough.
2. The wavelength can be measured from any point in the wave.
3. The symbol for wavelength is the Greek letter lambda.
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C. Frequency
1. Frequency is used to describe waves.
2. The number of complete waves, or complete cycles, per unit is called the
frequency.
3. The frequency of the wave depends on the frequency at which its source is
vibrating.
III.
IV.
V.
Types of Waves
A. Transverse Wave
1. When the object is jerked the particles move up and down.
2. Light is a transverse wave.
3. A wave in which the motion of the medium is at right angles to
the direction of the wave is called a transverse wave.
B. Longitudinal Waves
1. The motion of the medium is parallel the direction of the wave.
2. Particles in the medium move in the same direction.
3. Longitudinal waves can be represented on a graph in the same
way transverse waves can.
C. Combinations of Waves
1. Some waves cannot be described.
2. There are waves that consist of 3 different types of waves.
3. The motion is neither up nor down.
Speed of Waves
1. Speed = Frequency X Wavelength
2. The speed of a wave depends upon the medium through which it is
traveling.
3. In a given Medium, the speed of the wave is constant.
Interactions of Waves
A. Reflection
1. When waves hit an object they bounce back.
2. Energy is absorbed and the entire wave is transfer to another.
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3. The law of reflection states that the angle of the incidence (i) is
equal to the angle of reflection (r).
B. Refraction
1. Waves do not bend as they travel through the medium unless an
obstacle gets in the wave.
2. When a wave does bend it is due to a change in refraction.
3. As waves pass from one medium to another, they may speed up
or slow down.
C. Diffraction
1. If you duck when I snowball is coming, it will miss!
2. The bending of waves around the edge of an obstacle is called
diffraction.
3. A new series of waves being formed.
D. Interference
1. When two waves meet in the same place they combine to form a
single wave.
2. When the crest of one wave meets another they add together
their intensity.
3. The amplitude is the difference between the waves.