Waves

come to Pembrokeshire - it's wild!

Waves are one way in which energy can move from one place to another.

The waves that you see at the beach are the result of the kinetic energy of water particles passing through the water.
Other types of energy (such as light, heat, and radio waves) can travel in this way as well.

If you look at the waves on the sea they seem to move in one direction .... towards you.
However, the particles that make up the wave only move up and down.
Look at the animation, on the right, although the wave seems to be moving from left to right the blue particle is only moving up and down.

 a transverse wave

 

Now answer these questions:

  1. Waves are a way in which what can travel ?
  2. What sort of energy is mainly transferred in a wave on the sea ?
  3. If you're standing on a beach in what direction do the waves move ?
  4. In what direction do the water particles move in a wave ?
  5. If you float in gentle waves - in what direction do you move ?
  6. If you catch the wavefront of a wave with a surf board - where do you go ?

You scored out of 6 on that test

Transverse Waves

  • the distance between 2 peaks (or 2 troughs) is called a wavelength
  • the deepest part of a trough or the highest part of a peak is called the amplitude
  • the frequency is the number of wavelengths that pass by in 1 second
 parts of a transverse wave

Now answer these questions:

  1. What sort of wave moves up and down ?
  2. What is the high point of a transverse wave called ?
  3. What is the low point of a transverse wave called ?
  4. What is the amplitude of a transverse wave ?
  5. What is the distance between the bottom of a trough and the height of a peak ?
  6. What is the distance between two peaks ?
  7. What is the distance between two troughs ?
  8. What is the number of wavelengths per second called ?
  9. If seven wavelengths pass in one second - what is the frequency ?
  10. If seven wavelengths pass in half a second - what is the frequency ?

You scored out of 10 on that test