Types and Properties of Waves

Frequency

• The number of waves that pass a fixed point in unit time.

• The distance between two consecutive waves.

• The speed at which waves travel through a medium.

• The amplitude of the waves.

Mechanical

• Waves that require a medium to travel through, such as sound waves.

• Waves that can travel through a vacuum, like light waves.

• Waves that are produced by electromagnetic fields.

• Waves that do not require a medium, such as radio waves.

Antinode

• A point where the amplitude of a standing wave is at its maximum.

• A point where the wave has zero amplitude.

• A point where the wave changes direction.

• A point where the wave is at its minimum.

Wave speed

• The speed at which a wave travels through a medium.

• The distance a wave travels in one cycle.

• The frequency of a wave multiplied by its wavelength.

• The amplitude of a wave affecting its speed.

Standing

• A wave that remains in a constant position, characterized by nodes and antinodes.

• A wave that travels through a medium and loses energy over time.

• A wave that is produced by the interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions.

• A wave that can only be seen in a vacuum and does not require a medium.

Destructive interference

• When two waves meet in phase and their amplitudes add together.

• When two waves meet out of phase and their amplitudes cancel each other out.

• When waves travel in opposite directions and create a standing wave.

• When two waves combine to form a wave with greater amplitude.

Transverse

• A type of wave where the particle displacement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation.

• A type of wave where the particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

• A type of wave that travels through a vacuum without a medium.

• A type of wave that can only travel through solids.

Trough

• The highest point of a wave.

• The lowest point of a wave.

• The distance between two waves.

• The speed of a wave.

Node

• A point along a standing wave where the wave has minimal amplitude.

• A point where the wave reaches its maximum height.

• A point of complete wave cancellation.

• A point where the wave changes direction.

Electromagnetic

• Waves that require a medium to travel through, such as sound waves.

• Waves that can only travel through solids and liquids.

• Waves that do not require a medium and can travel through a vacuum, such as light waves.

• Waves that are only produced by electrical devices.