Waves — Chapter Summary

A wave is a moving pattern

A wave is a moving pattern that transfers energy from one point to another without the actual transfer of matter as a whole. In a pond, cork pieces mo

Mechanical waves need a medium

Mechanical waves need a medium and include waves on a string, water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves. Electromagnetic waves do not necessarily re

In transverse waves

In transverse waves, particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction of propagation. In longitudinal waves, particles oscillate along the direction

A sinusoidal wave travelling in

A sinusoidal wave travelling in the positive x direction is written as y(x,t)=a sin(kx-ωt+φ). For the negative x direction, the form is y(x,t)=a sin(k

Wavelength is the minimum distance between

Wavelength is the minimum distance between two points in the same phase. The relations are λ=2π/k, ωT=2π, ν=1/T=ω/2π, and v=ων/k=λν=λ/T.