Download Module 7 Lesson 1 Notes

Nature of
Waves
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What is a Wave?
• Disturbance that
carries energy
through matter or
space
• Most waves travel through a medium
• Medium – matter through which a wave
travels
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Waves Transport Energy
• Energy is the ability to
do work
• Waves carry energy
because they can do
work
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Energy Spreads Out as Wave
Travels
• Waves spread out in
circles that get bigger
as the waves move
farther from the
center
• As the circles get
larger, the energy
spreads over a larger
area
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Mechanical Wave
• Wave that needs medium to transport
energy
• Ex. Sound wave
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Electromagnetic Wave
• Does not require a medium to transmit
energy
• Produced by vibration of charged particles
• Ex. Light Waves
Transverse Waves
• Motion of particles in medium is
perpendicular to the motion of the wave
• Ex. Light Waves
Transverse Wave Motion
Longitudinal Waves
• Particles in medium vibrate parallel to
the direction of wave motion
• Also called compressional waves
• Ex. Sound Waves
Longitudinal Wave Motion
Sound waves
• Compressional waves
• Caused by vibrations in air
• Can travel through other mediums (wood,
water) as well
Surface Waves
• Particles move in circles
• Occur at the boundary between 2 different
mediums
• Particles move both perpendicularly and
parallel
Surface Wave Motion
Seismic waves
• Earth’s crust breaks and
causes vibrations
• Seismic waves carry
energy outward
• Compressional and
transverse waves
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