Lesson 2:
Pgs. 18-23
Basic Properties of Waves
Amplitude
Wavelength
Frequency
Speed
Amplitude
Amplitude is the maximum distance the particles of the
medium carrying the wave move away from their rest
positions.
The farther the medium moves as it vibrates the larger the
amplitude of the resulting waves. The greater the
amplitude the greater the amount of energy
Amplitude of transverse waves
The amplitude of a transverse wave is
the maximum distance the medium
moves up or down from its rest
position. You can find the amplitude of
a transverse wave by measuring the
distance from rest to crest or rest to
trough.
Diagram
Amplitude of a longitudinal
wave.
The amplitude of a longitudinal wave is
a measure of how compressed or
rarefied the medium becomes.
Wavelength
A wave travels a certain distance before
it starts to repeat. The distance
between two corresponding parts of a
wave is its wavelength.
Transverse measure from crest to crest
or trough to trough.
Longitudinal measure from one
compression to the next.
Diagram
Frequency
The number of complete waves that
pass a given point in a certain amount
of time.
Or, the number of vibrations per
second.
Frequency measured in hertz (Hz).
Diagram
Speed
The speed, wavelength, and frequency
of a wave are related to each other by a
mathematical formula.
Speed = wavelength x frequency
Frequency = speed/wavelength
Wavelength = speed/frequency
So, how do you calculate the
speed of waves?
Equations
Let’s practice!
Answer Check
Multiply the frequency by the wavelength to
determine the speed.
Row 1: speed = 3.5 m/sRow 2: speed = 3.5 m/s
Row 3: speed = 2.5 m/s
Row 4: speed = 2.5 m/s
Row 5: speed = 2.1 m/s
Row 6: speed = 2.2 m/s