Waves

All waves are carriers of energy.

Waves may be transverse or longitudinal in nature. Sounds waves are longitudinal waves and are also called compression waves. The particles vibrate in the same direction as the movement of the wave. The surface waves of the ocean are transverse waves where the motion of the particles (up and down like a cork) is perpendicular or at right angles to the movement of the wave. Waves allow energy top be transmitted from one point to another over long distances.

The distance from a wave crest to a wave crest or from a trough to another trough is called a wavelength

A wave

The frequency of a wave is the number of wavelengths that pass a given point per second. The velocity or speed of a wave can be found be multiplying together the wavelength and the frequency.

Velocity = Wavelength x Frequency

Electromagnetic waves can travel through outer space or a vacuum as they do not need particles of matter to vibrate. Electromagnetic vibrations allow energy to be carried in the form of gamma rays, UV light, infra red light, the visible light spectrum, microwaves and radio waves.

The electromganetic spectrum.