What is a wave?

When we think of the word "wave" we usually picture someone moving their hand back and forth to say
hello or maybe we think of a curling wall of water moving in from the ocean to crash on the beach. In
physics, a wave is a disturbance that travels through space and matter transferring energy from one
place to another. When studying waves it's important to remember that they transfer energy, not
matter. Waves in Everyday Life There are lots of waves all around us in everyday life. Sound is a type of
wave that moves through matter and then vibrates our eardrums so we can hear. Light is a special kind
of wave that is made up of photons. You can drop a rock into a pond and see waves form in the water.
We even use waves (microwaves) to cook our food really fast. Types of Waves Waves can be divided
into various categories depending on their characteristics. Below we describe some of the different
terms that scientists use to describe waves. Mechanical Waves and Electromagnetic Waves All waves
can be categorized as either mechanical or electromagnetic. Mechanical waves are waves that require a
medium. This means that they have to have some sort of matter to travel through. These waves travel
when molecules in the medium collide with each other passing on energy. One example of a mechanical
wave is sound. Sound can travel through air, water, or solids, but it can't travel through a vacuum. It
needs the medium to help it travel. Other examples include water waves, seismic waves, and waves
traveling through a spring. Electromagnetic waves are waves that can travel through a vacuum (empty
space). They don't need a medium or matter. Examples of electromagnetic waves include light,
microwaves, radio waves, and X-rays. Transverse Waves and Longitudinal Waves Another way to
describe a wave is by the direction that its disturbance is traveling. Transverse waves are waves where
the disturbance moves perpendicular to the direction of the wave. You can think of the They travel
through electrical and magnetic fields that are generated by charged particles. wave moving left to right,
while the disturbance moves up and down. One example of a transverse wave is a water wave where
the water moves up and down as the wave passes through the ocean. Other examples include an
oscillating string and a wave of fans in a stadium (the people move up and down while the wave moves
around the stadium). Longitudinal waves are waves where the disturbance moves in the same direction
as the wave. One example of this is a wave moving through a stretched out slinky or spring. If you
compress one portion of the slinky and let go, the wave will move left to right. At the same time, the
disturbance (which is the coils of the springs moving), will also move left to right. Another classic
example of a longitudinal wave is sound. As sound waves propagate through a medium, the molecules
collide with each other in the same direction as the sound is moving. In the above picture the top wave
is transverse and the bottom wave is LONGITUDINAL. Interesting Facts about Waves Waves in the ocean
are mostly generated by the wind moving across the ocean surface. The "medium" is the substance or
material that carries a mechanical wave. One of the most important things to remember about waves is
that they transport energy, not matter. This makes them different from other phenomenon in physics.
Many waves cannot be seen such as microwaves and radio waves. The tallest ocean wave ever recorded
was 1,720 feet tall and occurred in Lituya Bay in Alaska.

Properties of Waves
There are many properties that scientists use to describe waves. They include amplitude, frequency,
period, wavelength, speed, and phase. Each of these properties is described in more detail below.
Graphing a Wave When drawing a wave or looking at a wave on a graph, we draw the wave as a
snapshot in time. The vertical axis is the amplitude of the wave while the horizontal axis can be either
distance or time. In this picture you can see that the highest point on the graph of the wave is called the
crest and the lowest point is called the trough. The line through the center of the wave is the resting
position of the medium if there was no wave passing through. We can determine a number of wave
properties from the graph. Amplitude The amplitude of a wave is a measure of the displacement of the
wave from its rest position. The amplitude is shown on the graph below. Amplitude is generally
calculated by looking on a graph of a wave and measuring the height of the wave from the resting
position. The amplitude is a measure of the strength or intensity of the wave. For example, when
looking at a sound wave, the amplitude will measure the loudness of the sound. The energy of the wave
also varies in direct proportion to the amplitude of the wave. Wavelength The wavelength of a wave is
the distance between two corresponding points on back-to-back cycles of a wave. This can be measured
between two crests of a wave or two troughs of a wave. The wavelength is usually represented in
physics by the Greek letter lambda (λ). Frequency and Period The frequency of a wave is the number of
times per second that the wave cycles. Frequency is measured in Hertz or cycles per second. The
frequency is often represented by the lower case "f." The period of the wave is the time between wave
crests. The period is measured in time units such as seconds. The period is usually represented by the
upper case "T." The period and frequency are closely related to each other. The period equals 1 over the
frequency and the frequency is equal to one over the period. They are reciprocals of each other as
shown in the following formulas. period = 1/frequency or T = 1/f frequency = 1/period or f = 1/T Speed
or Velocity of a Wave Another important property of a wave is the speed of propagation. This is how fast
the disturbance of the wave is moving. The speed of mechanical waves depends on the medium that the
wave is traveling through. For example, sound will travel at a different speed in water than in air. The
velocity of a wave is usually represented by the letter "v." The velocity can be calculated by multiplying
the frequency by the wavelength. velocity = frequency * wavelength or v = f * λ

Sound: Pitch and Acoustics

This page is a continuation of the page study of the science of sound. Pitch and Frequency An important
measurement of sound is the frequency. This is how fast the sound wave is oscillating. This is different
than how fast the wave travels through the medium. Frequency is measured in hertz. The faster the
sound wave oscillates the higher pitch it will have. For example, on a guitar a big heavy string will vibrate
slowly and create a low sound or pitch. A thinner lighter string will vibrate faster and create a high sound
or pitch. See musical notes for more on what makes up a musical note. Talking Not only is hearing sound
important, but we also create sound to communicate. The process of making precise sounds for speech
is very complex and involves many parts of the body working together. Sounds are made by our vocal
cords vibrating in our throat. This way we can adjust our volume and our pitch. We also use our lungs to
force air past our vocal cords and start them vibrating. We use our mouth and tongue as well to help
form specific sounds. It's truly amazing we can make a sound let alone the complex system of sounds
humans can create to communicate with speech. Acoustics Acoustics is the study of how sound travels.
It's important in controlling how sound behaves and is used in designing buildings like auditoriums,
theaters, and libraries. In some cases acoustics is used to help sound travel. For example, in a large
concert hall, acoustics helps so that everyone in the building, even the back seat, can hear the music. In
a library, acoustic design would help to keep sound from traveling to help the library stay quiet. There
are two main ways to control acoustics: Reverberation - reverberation is how sounds bounce off things.
Typically a "loud" room would be one where the sound is reverberating off the walls and floors. Some
materials echo sounds better than others. For example, a tile floor will reverberate a sound better than
a carpeted floor (which would absorb the sound). Absorption - The opposite of reverberation, items that
absorb sound don't reflect the vibrations. Soft items such as carpet and curtains will help to absorb
sound and make a room quieter. The Doppler Effect If you are standing still and a car drives past you,
the frequency of the sound will change as the car passes you. This is called the Doppler Effect. The
sound pitch will be higher as the car is coming towards you and then lower as the car moves away. The
sound the car is producing is not changing. Its frequency is the same. However, as the car is traveling
towards you the speed of the car is causing the sound waves to hit your ear faster or at a higher
frequency than the car is making them. Once the car passes you, the sound waves are actually reaching
your ear at a lower frequency. The Doppler Effect is named for scientist Christian Doppler who
discovered it in 1842.

Sound Wave Characteristics A sound wave is a special kind of wave that can be detected by the human
ear. Sound waves have special characteristics that make them unique. Mechanical Waves One important
characteristic of sound waves is that they are mechanical waves. This means that they travel through a
medium. Sound waves can travel through all sorts of mediums. Normally, we hear sound waves that
have traveled through air, but sound can also travel through water, wood, the Earth, and many other
substances. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum like outer space, however. The source of sound
waves is something vibrating. This vibration causes a disturbance in the molecules around the source.
The energy of the wave is transferred from molecule to molecule within the medium. Longitudinal
Waves Another characteristic of sound waves is that they are longitudinal waves. This means that the
disturbance of the wave travels in the same direction as the wave. As the molecules vibrate and transfer
energy to each other they cause a wave that moves in the direction of the vibration. The longitudinal
characteristic of sound waves can be seen the picture below. Here you can see how the molecules move
in a left to right motion causing the wave and the disturbance to move in the same direction. In some
areas of the wave the molecules get bunched together. This is called compression. In other areas the
molecules become spread out. This is called rarefaction. What is the wavelength of a sound wave? We
studied how the wavelength of a transverse wave is measured from crest to crest or trough to trough.
This is fairly easy to see when looking at a graph. However, sound waves are different as they are
longitudinal. To determine the wavelength of a sound wave you measure from compression to
compression or rarefaction to rarefaction. Pressure Waves Sound waves can also be thought of as
pressure waves. This is because the compressions and rarefactions that move through sound waves
have different pressures. The compressions are areas of high pressure while the rarefactions are areas
of low pressure. What is the amplitude of a sound wave? Sometimes you will see a graph of a sound
wave that looks like a sine wave (see below). This is different from the graph of a transverse wave. The
peaks and valleys of this wave graph the changes in pressure that occur in the wave. From this graph we
can determine the amplitude of the sound wave. The amplitude is the peak of the compression or
rarefaction on the graph. Intensity of a Sound Wave Sound waves are sometimes measured using a
quantity called intensity. The intensity of a sound wave (I) is equal to the sound power (P) over the area
(A):

I = P/A

The Frequency of Sound We can hear sound within a certain frequency range of around 20 Hz on the
low end and 20,000 Hz on the high end. Some animals have different ranges. Dolphins, for example,
can't hear sounds as low as we can, but can hear high sounds of over 100,000 Hz. Dogs and cats can hear
much higher pitched sounds than we can.

Wave Physics Glossary and Terms Absorption - Absorption is when some of the wave's energy is taken
away when a wave encounters a medium. Amplitude - The measure of the displacement of the wave
from its rest position. The higher the amplitude of a wave, the higher its energy. Coherence - Two waves
are said to be coherent when they have a constant phase difference between them. Crest - The crest is
the highest point of a wave. The opposite of the crest is the trough. Diffraction - Diffraction is when a
wave remains in the same medium, but bends around an obstacle. Electromagnetic Waves -
Electromagnetic waves are waves that can travel through a vacuum. They do not need a medium. Light
is a type of electromagnetic wave. Frequency - The frequency of a wave is the number of times per
second that a wave cycles. The frequency is the inverse of the period. Intensity - A measurement of the
strength of a sound wave that is equal to the power divided by the area. Interference - Interference is
when one wave comes into contact with another wave. Light wave - A light wave is a special type of
electromagnetic wave that has a frequency in the visible spectrum. Longitudinal - A longitudinal wave is
a wave where the disturbance travels in the same direction as the wave. Sound waves are longitudinal.
Mechanical Waves - A mechanical wave is a wave that must travel through some sort of matter called a
medium. Mechanical waves cannot travel through a vacuum like outer space. Medium - The medium is
the matter that a wave travels through. Period - The period of a wave is the time between wave crests.
It is the inverse of the frequency. Polarization - Polarization is when a wave oscillates in one particular
direction. Light waves are sometimes polarized by a special polarizing filter. Reflection - Reflection
occurs when a wave bounces off a boundary, changing direction but remaining in the same medium.
Refraction - The change in direction and wavelength when a wave moves from one medium to another.
Refractive Index - The refractive index is a number that describes how light travels through a specific
medium. Different mediums have different refractive indexes. The refractive index of a vacuum is
defined to be 1. Resonance - Resonance is the tendency for a system to oscillate with greater amplitude
at some frequencies than at others. Resting position - The resting position is the position the medium
would take if there were no wave. It is represented on a graph by a line through the center of the wave.
Sound wave - Sound waves are mechanical waves that are caused by a vibration. Sound waves can be
heard by our ears. Speed - The speed of a wave is a measure of how fast the disturbance of the wave is
moving. The speed can be dependent on the type of medium that a wave is moving through. Standing
wave - A standing wave is a wave that remains in a constant position. Transverse - A transverse wave is a
wave where the disturbance moves perpendicular to the direction of the wave. Wave - A wave is a
traveling disturbance that moves through space and matter. Waves transfer energy from one place to
another, but not matter. Wavelength - The wavelength of a wave is the distance between two
corresponding points on back-to-back cycles of a wave. For example, between two crests of a wave.
Trough - The trough is the lowest part of the wave. The opposite of the trough is the crest.

Properties of Waves There are many properties that scientists use to describe waves. They include
amplitude, frequency, period, wavelength, speed, and phase. Each of these properties is described in
more detail below. Graphing a Wave When drawing a wave or looking at a wave on a graph, we draw
the wave as a snapshot in time. The vertical axis is the amplitude of the wave while the horizontal axis
can be either distance or time. In this picture you can see that the highest point on the graph of the
wave is called the crest and the lowest point is called the trough. The line through the center of the
wave is the resting position of the medium if there was no wave passing through. We can determine a
number of wave properties from the graph. Amplitude The amplitude of a wave is a measure of the
displacement of the wave from its rest position. The amplitude is shown on the graph below. Amplitude
is generally calculated by looking on a graph of a wave and measuring the height of the wave from the
resting position. The amplitude is a measure of the strength or intensity of the wave. For example, when
looking at a sound wave, the amplitude will measure the loudness of the sound. The energy of the wave
also varies in direct proportion to the amplitude of the wave. Wavelength The wavelength of a wave is
the distance between two corresponding points on back-to-back cycles of a wave. This can be measured
between two crests of a wave or two troughs of a wave. The wavelength is usually represented in
physics by the Greek letter lambda (λ). Frequency and Period The frequency of a wave is the number of
times per second that the wave cycles. Frequency is measured in Hertz or cycles per second. The
frequency is often represented by the lower case "f." The period of the wave is the time between wave
crests. The period is measured in time units such as seconds. The period is usually represented by the
upper case "T." The period and frequency are closely related to each other. The period equals 1 over the
frequency and the frequency is equal to one over the period. They are reciprocals of each other as
shown in the following formulas. period = 1/frequency or T = 1/f frequency = 1/period or f = 1/T Speed
or Velocity of a Wave Another important property of a wave is the speed of propagation. This is how fast
the disturbance of the wave is moving. The speed of mechanical waves depends on the medium that the
wave is traveling through. For example, sound will travel at a different speed in water than in air. The
velocity of a wave is usually represented by the letter "v." The velocity can be calculated by multiplying
the frequency by the wavelength. velocity = frequency * wavelength or v = f * λ

Behavior of Light as a Wave In physics, light is type of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the eye.
Light has the unique property that it can be described in physics as both a wave and as a stream of
particles called photons. On this page we will describe some of the behaviors of light as a wave including
reflection, refraction, and diffraction. Reflection One of the most important wave-like behaviors of light
is reflection. It is reflected light that we see with our eyes. How light reflects off objects affects the
colors we see as well. When a wave strikes a new medium, some of the wave will bounce off the
surface. How reflective the surface is will determine how much light (and what wavelengths of light) will
be reflected and how much will be absorbed or transmitted. When light is reflected it obeys the law of
reflection that is followed by waves. This means that the angle of the reflected wave of light will equal
the angle of incidence of the incoming light wave. See the picture below for an example: Types of
Reflection Specular reflection - A specular reflection is when rays of light are reflected off a surface in a
single outgoing direction. An example of this type of reflection is a mirror. Specular reflections occur on
surfaces that are flat at the microscopic level such as polished silver or a smooth body of water. Diffuse
reflection - A diffuse reflection is when a surface reflects rays of light in a broad range of directions.
Diffuse reflections occur when a surface is rough at the microscopic level. The surface may appear or
feel smooth, like a piece of paper, but it is actually rough at the microscopic level. This causes the beams
of light to reflect at different angles. Refraction When light moves from one medium (like air) to another
medium (like water) it will change directions. This is a "wave-like" behavior and is called refraction. In
this way light behaves like other waves such as sound waves. The speed of the light wave also changes
when it moves from medium to medium. You can see an example of refraction of light in water if you
put a straw in a glass of water. You will see how the straw seems to move to the side. This is the light
wave bending as it enters the water. Index of Refraction In order to measure how light will behave in
different substances, scientists use the index of refraction. This gives a ratio of the speed of light in a
vacuum over the speed of light in the substance. The equation for the index of refraction is: n = c/v
where n is the index of refraction, c is the speed of light in a vacuum, and v is the speed of light in the
substance. As an example, take the index of refraction for water which is 1.33. This means that the
speed of light in a vacuum is 1.33 times faster than the speed of light in water. Diffraction Another
wave-like property of light is diffraction. When light waves encounter an obstacle or pass through an
opening they will bend. The diffraction of light can be seen in the silver lining around clouds as well as
the patterns of light from the surface of a compact disc (see picture).

Types of Electromagnetic Waves Electromagnetic waves are a form of energy waves that have both an
electric and magnetic field. Electromagnetic waves are different from mechanical waves in that they can
transmit energy and travel through a vacuum. Electromagnetic waves are classified according to their
frequency. The different types of waves have different uses and functions in our everyday lives. The
most important of these is visible light, which enables us to see. Click on the picture for a larger view
Radio Waves Radio waves have the longest wavelengths of all the electromagnetic waves. They range
from around a foot long to several miles long. Radio waves are often used to transmit data and have
been used for all sorts of applications including radio, satellites, radar, and computer networks.
Microwaves Microwaves are shorter than radio waves with wavelengths measured in centimeters. We
use microwaves to cook food, transmit information, and in radar that helps to predict the weather.
Microwaves are useful in communication because they can penetrate clouds, smoke, and light rain. The
universe is filled with cosmic microwave background radiation that scientists believe are clues to the
origin of the universe they call the Big Bang. Infrared Between microwaves and visible light are infrared
waves. Infrared waves are sometimes classified as "near" infrared and "far" infrared. Near infrared
waves are the waves that are closer to visible light in wavelength. These are the infrared waves that are
used in your TV remote to change channels. Far infrared waves are further away from visible light in
wavelength. Far infrared waves are thermal and give off heat. Anything that gives off heat radiates
infrared waves. This includes the human body! Visible light The visible light spectrum covers the
wavelengths that can be seen by the human eye. This is the range of wavelengths from 390 to 700 nm
which corresponds to the frequencies 430-790 THz. You can go here to learn more about the visible
spectrum. Ultraviolet Ultraviolet waves have the next shortest wavelength after visible light. It is
ultraviolet rays from the Sun that cause sunburns. We are protected from the Sun's ultraviolet rays by
the ozone layer. Some insects, such as bumblebees, can see ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light is used by
powerful telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope to see far away stars. X-rays X-rays have even
shorter wavelengths than ultraviolet rays. At this point in the electromagnetic spectrum, scientists begin
to think of these rays more as particles than waves. X-rays were discovered by German scientist Wilhelm
Roentgen. They can penetrate soft tissue like skin and muscle and are used to take X-ray pictures of
bones in medicine. Gamma rays As the wavelengths of electromagnetic waves get shorter, their energy
increases. Gamma rays are the shortest waves in the spectrum and, as a result, have the most energy.
Gamma rays are sometimes used in treating cancer and in taking detailed images for diag

Wave Behavior When waves encounter new mediums, barriers, or other waves they can behave in
different ways. In physics these behaviors are described using some of the terms below. Reflection The
word "reflection" is used in everyday life to describe what we see in a mirror or on the surface of the
water. In physics, a reflection is when a wave encounters a new medium that acts as a barrier, causing
the wave to return to the original medium. The wave "reflects" off the barrier at an angle that is incident
to the angle of the wave hitting the barrier (see below). Refraction Refraction of a wave occurs when a
wave changes direction upon moving from one medium to another. Along with the change of direction,
refraction also causes a change in the wavelength and the speed of the wave. The amount of change in
the wave due to refraction is dependent on the refractive index of the mediums. One example of
refraction is a prism. When white light enters the prism, the different wavelengths of light are refracted.
The different wavelengths of light are each refracted differently and the light is split into a spectrum of
colors. Diffraction Diffraction occurs when a wave stays in the same medium, but bends around an
obstacle. This can occur when the wave encounters a small object in its path or when the wave is forced
through a small opening. An example of diffraction is when a water wave hits a boat and bends around
the boat. The waves after the boat are changed or diffracted. An example of a diffracted wave passing
through a small opening. Polarization Polarization is when a wave oscillates in one particular direction.
Light waves are often polarized using a polarizing filter. Only transverse waves can be polarized.
Longitudinal waves, such as sound, cannot be polarized because they always travel in the same direction
of the wave. In this picture the unpolarized light wave travels through the filter and then is polarized
along a single plane. Absorption Absorption is when a wave comes into contact with a medium and
causes the medium's molecules to vibrate and move. This vibration absorbs or takes some of the energy
away from the wave and less of the energy is reflected. One example of absorption is black pavement
which absorbs energy from light. The black pavement becomes hot from absorbing the light waves and
little of the light is reflected making the pavement appear black. A white stripe painted on the pavement
will reflect more of the light and absorb less. As a result the white stripe will be less hot. Interference
When one wave comes into contact with another wave this is called interference. When the waves meet
the resulting wave will have the amplitude of the sum of the two interfering waves. Depending on the
phase of the waves the interference can be constructive or destructive. If the resulting wave has a
higher amplitude than the interfering waves, this is constructive interference. If it has a lower
amplitude, this is called destructive interference.

Types of Waves
Every sound we hear, every photon of light that hits our eyes, the movement of grass blown by the wind
and the regular beat of the tides are all examples of waves. They are all around us. Visible, physical
wave*s such as those we see when a rock is thrown into water are what many people think about when
they first began to think about waves. These waves have distinct properties specific to their type but
also exhibit characteristics in common with more abstract waves such as sound waves and light
(electromagnetic) waves.

Below is an interactive illustration that explores particle and energy motion for the three wave types
listed above. Once you have reviewed the illustration and accompanying text, test your understanding
of these concepts with the wave type problem set

Show Embed this illustration

At the simplest level, waves are a disturbances that propagate energy through a medium. Propagation
of the energy depend on interactions between the particles that make up the medium. Particles move as
the waves pass through but there is no net motion of particles. This means, once a wave has passed the
particles return to their original position. As a result, energy, not matter, is propagated by waves.

Different types of waves exhibits specific characteristics. These characteristics are used to distinguish
between wave types. Orientation of particle motion relative to the direction of energy propagation is
one way waves are characterized. There are three categories:

Longitudinal wave*s - Movement of the particles are parallel to the motion of the energy. Sound waves
moving through the air is an example of this type of wave.
Transverse wave*s - movement of the particles are at right angles (perpendicular) to the motion of the
energy. Movement of a wave through a solid object like a stretched rope or a trampoline is an example
of this type of wave.
Surface wave*s - particles travel in a circular motion. These waves occur at interfaces. Examples include
waves in the ocean and ripples in a cup of water. One consequence of occurring at an interface is that
the motion of the particles diminish with distance from the interface. The further from the interface the
smaller the rotation of the particles until as some distance from the surface, there is no more movement
or energy propagation.
A second way that waves are characterized is by the types of matter they are able to travel through.
Electromagnetic waves (including light) can move through a vacuum. Physical waves require matter
through which to propagate. Physical waves are further distinguished by the phases of matter through
which they can move. Longitudinal waves can pass through liquids and gasses while transverse waves
require a material to be solid to propagate.