Introduction to waves

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Lesson notes

What are waves?

Waves **transfer energy** from one place to another.
Waves do **not transfer matter** – the particles vibrate but stay in position.

Types of wave

There are two types: **longitudinal** and **transverse**.
Both types are caused by **vibrations**.

Transverse waves

The vibration is **perpendicular** to the direction of wave travel.
Example: waves on a slinky moved side-to-side.
Key terms: **displacement** (distance from rest), **wavelength** (peak to peak), **amplitude** (maximum displacement).

Longitudinal waves

The vibration is **parallel** to the direction of wave travel.
Example: waves on a slinky moved back-and-forth.
A **compression** is where particles are closest together.
A **rarefaction** is where particles are furthest apart.

Similarities and differences

Similarity: Both transfer energy and are caused by vibrations.
Difference: In transverse waves, vibration is perpendicular; in longitudinal, vibration is parallel.

Transverse wave showing amplitude and wavelength.

Longitudinal wave showing compressions and rarefactions.

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.Which of the following best describes what a wave transfers?
Easy
- AEnergy
- BMatter
- CBoth energy and matter
- DNeither energy nor matter
2.In a transverse wave, the direction of vibration is:
Easy
- Aperpendicular to the direction of wave travel
- Bparallel to the direction of wave travel
- Cthe same as the direction of wave travel
- Dopposite to the direction of wave travel
3.Which of the following is true about longitudinal waves?
Easy
- AThey transfer matter along the wave.
- BThe vibration is parallel to the direction of wave travel.
- CThey cannot travel through a medium.
- DThey have crests and troughs.
4.In a longitudinal wave, the region where particles are closest together is called a:
Easy
- Ararefaction
- Bcompression
- Ccrest
- Dtrough
5.In a longitudinal wave, the region where particles are furthest apart is called a:
Easy
- Acompression
- Brarefaction
- Camplitude
- Dwavelength
6.Which labelled part on a transverse wave diagram represents the maximum displacement from the rest position?
Medium
- AWavelength
- BAmplitude
- CCrest
- DTrough
7.The distance between two consecutive peaks on a transverse wave is called the:
Medium
- Aamplitude
- Bfrequency
- Cwavelength
- Dspeed
8.Both longitudinal and transverse waves are caused by:
Medium
- Avibrations
- Belectric fields
- Cmagnetic fields
- Dparticle movement

Revision notes

## Introduction to Waves - Waves **transfer energy** from one place to another **without transferring matter**. - Caused by **vibrations**. ### Types of Waves - **Transverse waves**: vibration is **perpendicular** to direction of wave travel. - **Longitudinal waves**: vibration is **parallel** to direction of wave travel. ### Key Features - **Longitudinal wave**: has **compressions** (particles closest together) and **rarefactions** (particles furthest apart). - **Transverse wave**: has **peaks** and **troughs**. ### Important Terms - **Displacement**: how far a point on the wave is from the rest position. - **Wavelength**: distance from peak to peak (or any complete wave cycle). - **Amplitude**: maximum displacement of the wave. ### Similarities & Differences - **Similarity**: both types are caused by vibrations and transfer energy. - **Difference**: direction of vibration relative to wave travel (perpendicular vs parallel).

Wave: A transfer of energy from one place to another without transferring matter.
Transverse wave: A wave where the vibration is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.
Longitudinal wave: A wave where the vibration is parallel to the direction of wave travel.
Compression: Region in a longitudinal wave where particles are closest together.
Rarefaction: Region in a longitudinal wave where particles are furthest apart.
Displacement: How far a point on the wave is from the rest position.
Wavelength: Distance from peak to peak (or any complete wave cycle).
Amplitude: Maximum displacement of the wave.

Flashcards

What do waves transfer?

Waves transfer energy from one place to another, without transferring any matter.

What are the two types of wave?

Longitudinal and transverse waves.

What causes both longitudinal and transverse waves?

Vibrations.

In a transverse wave, what is the direction of vibration relative to wave travel?

The vibration is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

In a longitudinal wave, what is the direction of vibration relative to wave travel?

The vibration is parallel to the direction of wave travel.

What is a compression in a longitudinal wave?

A compression is where particles in the wave are closest together.

What is a rarefaction in a longitudinal wave?

A rarefaction is where particles in the wave are furthest apart.

Define displacement in a transverse wave.

Displacement is how far a point on the wave is from the rest position.

Define wavelength.

Wavelength is the distance from peak to peak (or any complete wave cycle).

Define amplitude.

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a wave.

True or false: A wave transfers energy from one place to another.

True.

True or false: A wave transfers matter from one place to another.

False.

True or false: Vibrations are the cause of both longitudinal and transverse waves.

True.

True or false: In a longitudinal wave, a compression is where particles in the wave are closest together.

True.

True or false: In a transverse wave, the vibration that causes the wave is parallel to the direction of wave travel.

False. In a transverse wave, the vibration is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

Describe a similarity between a longitudinal wave and a transverse wave.

Both are caused by vibrations and transfer energy without transferring matter.

Describe the difference between a longitudinal wave and a transverse wave.

In a longitudinal wave, vibrations are parallel to wave travel; in a transverse wave, vibrations are perpendicular.

What are the labels on a transverse wave diagram?

Displacement, wavelength, and amplitude.

What is the rest position in a wave?

The rest position is the equilibrium position of the medium when no wave is passing.

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