Wavea disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space; after a wave is gone the matter is back where it started, only the energy has been moved
Two types of waves
Mechanical waves -need a medium; includes sound, ocean, string waves; can be transverse, longitudinal or surface waves
Electromagnetic wavesneed NO medium; include light, radio, x-rays, TV, microwaves; all are transverse

Transverse wave-energy and the wave move perpendicular to each other

Longitudinal wave-energy and wave travel parallel to one another

• The relationship between wavelength, frequency and wave speed.

• Greek letter lambda – λ
• The distance between successive identical parts of a wave; one complete wave cycle; measured in distance units
• On a transverse wave-crest to crest, trough-trough or crest-trough
• On a longitudinal wave-compression to compression, rarefaction to rarefaction or compression to rarefaction

• Symbol is a lower case f
• The number of wave cycles that pass a point in a second
• Measured in Hertz (Hz)
• 1 Hz = 1/second

• Symbol is a cursive v
• Speed at which a wave travels; depends on medium; fastest in solids and slowest in gasses (think about why)
• Measured in speed units

• Wave speed = wavelength x frequency
• V = λ f
• I will put the wheel on the board and let’s do some sample problems….WATCH
THOSE UNITS!