Waves

Formula for frequency of a wave

Frequency = speed/wavelength ƒ = V/λ

What is the relationship between frequency and amplitude?

Frequency is the number of waves per cycle, while amplitude is the height of a wave. If the frequency is high, the amplitude of a wave is also high. In sound, the amplitude is the pitch.

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?

Frequency is the number of waves per cycle, while wavelength is the distance between two crests. They are inverse; the higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength. The lower the frequency, the bigger the wavelength.

Formula for Period

Period = 1/frequency T = 1/f

variable = T

Period; the reciprocal of frequency; the time needed for one wave to pass through a certain point

What is the relationship between frequency and the amount of energy transferred in a wave?

The amount of energy transferred by waves in a given time is proportional to its frequency. For example, if the frequency doubles, the amount of energy transferred by the wave also doubles.

Period

The reciprocal of frequency, or the time needed for one wave to pass through a certain point

Formula for velocity of a wave

Velocity = frequency x wavelength V = ƒλ

Formula for wavelength of a wave

Wavelength = speed/frequency λ = V/ƒ

electromagnetic waves

a form of energy that can travel through space; or light waves

frequency

a measure of the number of times a wave cycles per unit of time (usually 1 second); unit is Hertz (Hz).

waves

a repeating pattern with a specific wavelength, frequency, and amplitude

variable = ƒ

frequency; the number of wave crests that go through a point in a certain time; unit is cycles/s or Hz

wavelength

the distance between consecutive crests or consecutive troughs

crest

the highest point of a wave

trough

the lowest point of a wave

amplitude

the vertical distance from its equilibrium point to its crest, or from its equilibrium to its trough

variable = v

wave velocity; the speed that waves are moving in a direction; unit is m/s

variable = λ

wavelength; the distance between wave crests; unit is m

longitudinal wave

waves that move back and forth, or a parallel to the direction

transverse wave

waves that moves up and down, or perpendicular to the direction

mechanical waves

waves that require a medium to travel