Wave Notes

TEKS 5A & 5B
Waves

What is a WAVE?

A wave is a disturbance that travels through space transferring energy

Crest

The top of the wave
Crest is at the top of the toothpaste market!

Trough
The bottom of the wave pigs eat from a trough which resembles the bottom of a wave

Wavelength
The distance between a point on a wave and the same point on the very next wave

Types of Waves
Transverse Waves—waves that move in a perpendicular direction to the particles in the medium in which it’s passing.

Demonstrate a transverse wave with the coil

Compressional (Longitudinal) Waves—waves that move in a direction parallel to the particles in the medium in which it’s passing. Sound waves are compressional waves.
Demonstrate a compressional wave with the slinky.

Refraction
This phenomena is why the plants in the picture seem to have broken stems and the animal’s head appears to be disconnected from its body.

Reflection
The bouncing back of a wave as it hits a surface. The girl in the picture is a reflection off of the aquarium glass.

Resonance
Prolonged vibrations of a material at its natural frequency.
The Tacoma Narrows bridge was destroyed by resonance.

Interference
Wave interference occurs when two waves meet while traveling through the same medium. The amplitudes (heights) of the waves are added at the point that they pass each other.

Constructive Interference
When the two waves displace the medium in the same direction.
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/Class/waves/u10l3c.html

Destructive Interference
When two waves displace the medium in opposite directions
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/Class/waves/u10l3c.html

Polarization
A polarizing lens allows only light waves of a single orientation to pass through.