Resources | Subject Notes | Physics | Lesson Plan
Waves are disturbances that transfer energy from one place to another. A key characteristic of waves is that they do not transfer matter. Instead, the particles of the medium simply oscillate around their mean position, carrying the energy along.
Waves are a common way for energy to be transported. Consider a wave in water. The water molecules don't travel long distances with the wave; they just move up and down. The energy, however, propagates outwards.
There are different types of waves, each with its own characteristics. The two main categories are:
Waves have several key properties that describe their behaviour:
Property | Symbol | Unit | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Wavelength | λ | m | Distance between two successive crests or troughs. |
Amplitude | A | m | Maximum displacement from the mean position. |
Frequency | f | Hz | Number of waves passing a point per second. |
Period | T | s | Time for one complete wave cycle. |
Wave Speed | v | m/s | Speed at which the wave propagates. |
Important Note: The energy carried by a wave is directly proportional to the square of its amplitude. This means a larger amplitude wave carries significantly more energy.