Question

Characteristics of Waves​

Answer 1

Characteristics of Waves

The basic properties (parts) of a wave include:

Frequency

• Frequency is a measure of how many waves pass a point in a certain amount of time.

• The higher the frequency, the closer the waves are together and the greater the energy carried by the waves will be.

Amplitude

• Amplitude is a measure of the distance between a line through the middle of a wave and a crest or trough.

• The greater the force that produces a wave, the greater the amplitude of the wave and the greater the energy carried by the wave.

• The highest point of a transverse wave is the crest and the lowest point is called a trough.​

• In a transverse wave the higher the wave, the higher the amplitude.

• Sounds with greater amplitude will be louder; light with greater amplitude will be brighter.

Wavelength

• Wavelength is a measure of the distance from the crest on one wave to the crest on the very next wave.

• Shorter wavelengths are influenced by the frequency.

• A higher frequency causes a shorter wavelength and greater energy.

Speed

• Speed is a measure of the distance a wave travels in an amount of time.

• The speed of a wave is determined by the type of wave and the nature of the medium.

• As a wave enters a different medium, the wave’s speed changes. Waves travel at different speeds in different media.

• All frequencies of electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in empty space.