Properties of Waves

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A wave is a disturbance that propagates through a medium. Propagation describes the spreading of a disturbance Waves transfer energy, momentum, and information, but not mass.

Classifying Waves by Medium

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Mechanical Waves: matter is the medium

Sound is a mechanical wave

Electromagnetic Waves: electric and magnetic fields are the media

Light is an electromagnetic wave

Gravitational Waves: the gravitational field is the medium. (The existence of gravitational waves has not yet been confirmed.)

Classifying Waves by Orientation

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Transverse Waves: disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of propagation

All electromagnetic waves are transverse. This includes light. Crest: a point of maximal displacement in the positive direction Trough: a point of maximal displacement in the negative direction

Longitudinal Waves: disturbance is parallel to the direction of propagation

Sound is a longitudinal wave Compression or Condensation: a region where the medium is under compression

Rarefaction or Dilation: a region where the medium is under tension

Types of Waves
A Wave is a vibratory disturbance that is transmitted through a material or space. Waves propagate from one point to another based on their properties. Each of the waves possess its own property based on its nature. Thus we can classify it in to three types as Electromagnetic wave Mechanical wave Matter Waves.

Waves can be classified into three types:

1. Mechanical waves
2. Electromagnetic waves 3. Matter waves.

Mechanical Waves act as the propagation of a disturbance through a material medium due to the repeated periodic motion of the particles of the medium about their mean positions, the disturbance being handed over from one particle to the next. Electromagnetic Waves are the disturbance, which does not require any material medium for its propagation and can travel even through vacuum. They are caused due to varying electric and magnetic fields. Matter Waves are the waves produced in electrons and particles. The characteristic height of a peak and depth of a trough is called the amplitude of the wave. The vertical distance between the bottom of the trough and the top of the peak is twice the amplitude. We use symbols agreed upon by convention to label the characteristic quantities of the waves. Normally the letter A is used for the amplitude of a wave. The units of amplitude are metres (m).

The amplitude of a wave

The volume of sound, the energy in a water wave, and the brightness of light all depend upon the amplitude of the wave. The arrows on the wave in Fig.3 below indicate the amplitude of the water wave. It is equal to the height of the crest of the wave above the rest position. This is the same as the depth of a trough of a wave below the rest position. The amount of energy in a wave is proportional to its amplitude. The larger the amplitude, the more energy it carries, and the more dangerous it can be. For example, low-energy sound is perfectly safe. However, prolonged exposure to high-intensity sounds can cause loss of hearing and even deafness. One of the basic characteristics of a wave is its wavelength. This is the distance from one peak, or crest, to the next. This is the same as the distance from one dip, or trough, to the next.