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Lesson 1: Introduction to Waves is an interactive resource to learn the introductory content of waves and their physics. This page covers the basics of the anatomy of waves, their movement, and the relationships between their driving forces.
Waves are dynamic patterns that transfer energy.
Waves are a repeating, structured motion that move through space and time. This means that if you
observe a
wave over time, you’ll see recurring features. They are dynamic because they move and change with time
and are not a static structure.
Some waves transfer energy by traveling through matter, causing particles in a medium, such as air,
water, or solids, to move back and forth as the wave passes through. While other waves can even transfer
energy through empty space.
Waves are a repeating, structured motion that move in space and time. They Transfer energy through space
by traveling through matter or moving through empty space.
Light behaves like a wave, and sound is a wave.
Waves are made of their fundamental properties, which define how they function and interact with the world. The four properties of waves we will look at first are amplitude, frequency, velocity, and wavelength.
Amplitude
Frequency
Velocity
Wavelength
Amplitude is the wave's maximum
displacement, the higher the amplitude, the more energy the wave carries. The energy of the wave is
proportional to the square of the amplitude. It is measured in various units depending on the type
of wave.
In light, amplitude affects intensity or brightness. It is commonly measured in
electric field strength (Volts per meter, V/m).
In sound, amplitude corresponds to loudness
and is expressed as pressure. It is measured in decibels (dB), which represents perceived loudness
on a logarithmic scale.
Amplitude is the wave's maximum displacement.
Frequency is the number of wave cycles that pass a given point in a second.
Velocity is the
speed of a wave.
Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points on a wave.
Wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional, meaning that as one increases, the other decreases. This relationship exists because both wavelength and frequency describe different aspects of the same wave: frequency measures how many wave cycles pass a point each second, while wavelength measures the distance between consecutive wave peaks. Since the speed of the wave remains constant, any change in frequency must be balanced by an opposite change in wavelength.
The relationship between velocity, frequency, and wavelength is represented by the equation v=fλ. It shows that the speed of a wave is equal to its frequency multiplied by its wavelength. This creates a connection between how fast a wave moves and its shape-related properties. This equation is universal, applying to all types of waves, and illustrates how these properties interact with each other.
Waves are dynamic patterns that transfer energy.
Waves move energy from one place to another, like ripples running on water or sound traveling
through
air.
Light behaves like a wave, and sound is a wave.
Some waves transport energy by moving through matter, traveling through different mediums such as
air,
water, or solids. But, other waves can even move through empty space.
Understanding waves is the key to understanding how we perceive the world around us, from the light
we
see, to the sounds we hear, to the force that holds us to our planet.