Name _________________________________ Section: ________________________

Instructions: Read through the information below. Then complete the statements at the bottom of the
page using the BOLD words from the page.

Act #1: Waves: Introduction and Form

A wave is a transfer of energy through a medium from one point to another. Some examples of
waves include; water waves, sound waves, and radio waves. Waves come in two different forms; a
Transverse Wave which moves the medium perpendicular to the wave motion, and a Longitudinal
Wave, which moves the medium parallel to the wave motion.

Examples of Transverse waves would be a vibrating guitar string or s wave in an earthquake,

while an example of a longitudinal wave would be a “Slinky” wave that you push and pull or p wave in an
earthquake or sound wave.
Waves have several properties which are represented in the diagrams below. In a Transverse
wave the Crest and Troughs are the locations of maximum displacement up or down. The Amplitude is
the measurement of maximum displacement. The Wavelength is the distance of one complete wave
cycle. For example; the distance from crest to crest or trough to trough would be 1 wavelength.
In a Longitudinal wave, areas of maximum displacement are known as Compressions and Rarefactions.
The stronger the wave, the more compressed and spread out the wave medium becomes.

Fill in the statements using the BOLD words from the above information.
1. Wave motion that is parallel to wave direction describes a ___________________ wave.
2. A _________ is the maximum upwards displacement in a Transverse wave.
3. One complete wave cycle is referred to as a ____________________.
4. Wave motion that is Perpendicular to wave direction describes a ___________________ wave.
5. A ______________ or _______________ is the maximum displacement in a longitudinal wave.
6. An Ocean wave would be an example of a ____________________ wave.
7. The distance from one trough to another trough is called a _____________________.
8. The measurement of displacement is called a wave’s _____________________.
Name _________________________________ Section: ________________________

Act #2: Waves: Velocity, Period and Frequency

Instructions: Read through the information below. Then complete the calculation problems at the
bottom of the page.

The velocity of a wave can be calculated if you have enough information. First you need to know the
Wavelength, or the length of one complete wave cycle. This could be measured Crest to Crest, Trough to
Trough, or any other complete cycle of a wave. The second aspect you need is the wave Frequency, or
the number of waves or vibrations produced per second. The frequency is measured in Hertz and the
Wavelength is measured in meters.

This equation works for any wave form, surface waves, longitudinal waves or transverse waves.

The equation for calculating the velocity of a wave or speed of the wave is:
Velocity = Wavelength x Frequency

EXAMPLE: A wave as a Wavelength of 5 meters and a Frequency of 10 Hz. What is its velocity?
v = 5 x 10 v= 50 meters per second
𝑣
The equation for calculating the frequency of a wave is: Frequency= Velocity /Wavelength 𝑓=
𝜆
EXAMPLE: A wave makes 15 full waves in 5 seconds. What is the frequency of the wave? (Unit Hz=Hertz)
f = 15/5 f= 3 Hz

The equation for calculating the Period or frequency of a wave is:

Period = 1/frequency Frequency= 1/period
EXAMPLE: What is the frequency of the waves in 4 seconds? f= 1/4 sec f = 0.25 Hz
What is the period of a wave having a frequency of 0.20 Hz? p=1/0.20Hz p= 5seconds
A. Solve using the equation: (Show your equation set up and math work at the back)
1. A wave has a Wavelength of 12 meters and a Frequency of 10 Hz. What is its velocity?

2. A wave has a Wavelength of 3 meters and a Frequency of 15Hz. What is its velocity?

3. A wave have a frequency of 0.25 Hz with a wavelength of 25 meters. What is the speed of the wave?

4. A wave made a 50 full wave cycles in 10 seconds. What is its frequency?

5. A wave has a frequency of 10 Hz. Solve for the period of the wave in seconds
Name _________________________________ Section: ________________________

Act #3:Waves: Mechanical Waves and Electromagnetic Waves

Instructions: Read through the information below. Then answer the following questions below.

A wave can be described as a disturbance that moves away from a source and carries energy with it.

There are 2 types of Waves which are the Mechanical Waves and Electromagnetic Waves.

The Mechanical waves needs a medium which cannot travel through space or a vacuum. It travels
fastest in solids and slowest in gasses. The mechanical waves have two forms the transverse wave and
longitudinal wave.

The Electromagnetic waves does not have a medium which are made up of changing electric and
magnetic fields. It can travel through space and vacuum. Travels fastest in space and slowest in solids.

Common name
of the wave

Fill in the statements from the above information. (Note: You can use a separate paper or you can use
the back part for your answers)
1) Locate the electromagnetic spectrum and identify the common name of each wave shown in the
diagram
1) 3) 5) 7)
2) 4) 6)
2) Examine the electromagnetic spectrum. Base on the diagram describe the frequency and wavelength
of the electromagnetic spectrum wave.
3) Draw waves to represent each electromagnetic wave with label. Illustration must represent the
wavelength of a wave relative to the others.
4) Based on your understanding what electromagnetic wave has the highest frequency and short
wavelengths?
5) Based on your understanding what electromagnetic wave has the lowest frequency and long
wavelengths
6) A type of wave that cannot travel through space or a vacuum. __________________________
7) A type of wave that does not need a medium that travels fastest in space. _____________________
Additional notes:
 The motion of water molecules on the surface of deep water in which a wave is propagating is a
combination of transverse and longitudinal waves.
 Energy is transported through wave by virtue of the moving pattern but there is no net
transport of matter in wave motion.