A wave is a disturbance or vibration that transmits energy, but not matter.
Medium = material that the waves travel through
sound waves are vibrations of air
ocean waves are ripples in water
Crest = high point on a wave
Trough = low point on a wave
Wavelength (λ) = distance traveled by a single wave
Amplitude (A) = maximum displacement from rest
See the Pen wave properties by lilgreenland (@lilgreenland) on CodePen.
v = velocity (m/s)
λ = wavelength (m)
f = frequency (Hz, 1/s) = cycles per seconds
T = Period (s) = time for one cycle
See the Pen waves by lilgreenland (@lilgreenland) on CodePen.
Example: Playing middle C on a piano produces a sound with a frequency of 256 Hz. What is the period of the sound wave?
Example: An air horn sounds at a frequency of 220 Hz. If the speed of sound in air is 330 m/s what is the wavelength of the sound wave?
Example: The distance between successive crests in a series of water waves is 4.0 m, and the crests travel 8.6 m in 5.0 s. Calculate the frequency of a block of wood bobbing up and down on these water waves.