Waves

1. Wave Properties
&
Interactions
Kim Lachler
Updated 2015
NCES: 6.P.1

2. Wave Properties
 There are 4 properties of wave
 Amplitude
 Wavelength
 Frequency
 Wave speed

3. Wave Properties
 Amplitude
 The maximum distance that the particles of a
wave vibrate from the rest position.
 An other words from the rest position to the crest oror
from the rest position to the trough.

4. Wave Properties
 Amplitude
 Shows the amount of energy there is in a wave.
 The bigger the amplitude the more energy there is.

5. Wave Properties
 Wavelength
 The distance from any point on a wave to an
identical point on the next wave.
 Generally measured from crest to crest on a
transverse wave and from compression to
compression on a longitudinal wave.

6. Wave Properties
 Wavelength
 The shorter the wavelength the more energy
there is.

7. Wave Properties
 Frequency
 The number of waves produced in a given
amount of time
 Measured in Hertz (Hz)
 1Hz=1/s
(1 wave per second)

8. Wave Properties
 Frequency
 The higher the frequency the more energy

9. Wave Properties
 Wave Speed
 The speed at which a wave travels
 V= λ x f
v – wave speed
λ – wavelength
f – frequency
 The wavelength and frequency of a wave in a certain
medium depends on the wave speed not the other way
around
 http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/wavebasics/index.html

10. Wave Interactions
 There are 4 types of wave interactions
 Reflection
 Refraction
 Diffraction
 Interference

11. Wave Interactions
 Reflection
 The bouncing back of a wave when it
hits a surface.
* NOTE: When waves hits a substance
some of it is transmitted and some of
it is reflected.
Transmitted means to pass through
 This is why we can see objects and
hear echoes.

12. Wave Interactions
 Refraction
 The bending of waves as they
pass through different mediums
that cause the speed of the wave
to change.
 Prism

13. Wave Interactions
 Diffraction
 Change of direction of a wave when it hits an obstacle or
edge.
 Sound diffracts well around corners
 Light does not diffract as much because their wavelengths are
shorter

14. Wave Interactions
 Interference
 When 2 or more waves combine
 Two objects can’t occupy the same
space at the same time, but waves
can.
 There are 4 types of interference
 Constructive interference
 Destructive interference
 Standing waves
 Resonance