3/30/09

Post date: Mar 28, 2009 8:16:29 PM

Bell Ringer: What is a wave?

• • Pass back finals, view final grades

  • Wave - a disturbance that carries energy through matter or space

    • Examples

      • Water waves

      • Spring movements

      • "The Wave"

      • Sound waves

      • Light waves

    • Most travel through a medium

  • Medium - a physical environment in which phenomena occur. The "stuff" that a wave moves through. For example, sound waves travel through air, water waves through water, etc.

  • Mechanical waves - waves that require a medium

  • Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium

    • These are light waves, both visible and invisible light.

    • Includes radio waves, x-rays

  • Mechanical waves

  • Wave and Particle Motion Lab - due Tuesday

    • Transverse waves - particle move perpendicular to wave

    • Longitudinal waves - particles move parallel to wave

  • Parts of a wave

    • Crest - highest point on a wave

    • Trough - lowest point on a wave

    • Wavelength - length from one point on a wave to the next identical point

    • Amplitude - distance from resting position to a crest or trough (height of a wave)

    • Compression - part of a longitudinal wave where particles are squeezed together

    • Rarefaction - part of a longitudinal wave where particles are stretched apart

• PowerPoint Notes for 15-1