All waves transmit energy not matter.
What is a Wave?
A wave is a repeating disturbance or vibration that transfers or moves energy from place to place.
- We depend on waves for nearly everything we do from talking, being able to see things with our eyes, listening to music and using a cell phone all require waves transmitting energy.
- There are many different kinds of waves, but the one thing waves all have in common is they transmit energy and not matter.
What is a Medium?
Types of Waves
Transverse WavesVibrates up and down perpendicular to the motion the energy travels.
|
Compressional/Longitudinal WavesVibrates back and forth parallel to the motion the energy travels.
|
Video Guide:
|
|
Topic Tips
- All waves transmit energy NOT matter.
- Some waves require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas particles) to transmit energy. Some waves do not.
- There are two types of waves transverse waves and compressional/longitudinal waves. Each move the particles of the medium in different ways (parallel or perpendicular).