Wave (physics)
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
A wave is a type of change that moves from one place to another.
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[change] Examples of Waves
Waves are found everywhere in the natural world. Examples of waves:
- sound
- light[1]
- water waves
- earthquake waves
[change] Properties of Waves
Waves have properties that can be measured. All waves are made by adding sine waves. Here is a picture of a sine wave:
Sine waves can be measured too. The shape of a sine wave is given by its amplitude, phase, wavelength and frequency. The speed that the sine wave moves can be measured. The amplitude and wavelength of the sine wave is shown in the picture.
All waves are made by adding up sine waves. Waves also have amplitudes, phases, wavelengths, frequencies and speeds that can be measured.
[change] Waves and Matter
Some waves can move through matter while others cannot. For instance, some waves can move through empty space, light waves for example. Sound waves, on the other hand, cannot move through empty space. Inherently, all waves carry energy from one place to another when they move. In some applications of technology, waves may carry meaningful information from one place to another, such as radio technology.
Usually, after a wave moves through matter, the matter is the same as it was before the wave was introduced, though in some cases, matter can be affected by waves traveling through it. In 1922, Louis de Broglie found out that waves all waves are also particles, and all particles are also waves.
[change] Some Types of Waves
In matter:
- Transverse wave: the vibrations of particles are perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wave. Transverse waves have crests and troughs. Wave crests and troughs move along a travelling transverse wave.
- Longitudinal wave: the vibrations of particles are parallel to the direction of travel of wave. Longitudinal waves have compressions and rarefactions. Compressions and rarefactions move along a travelling transverse wave.
- Standing wave
- Travelling wave
- Solitary wave
Light waves can move through space. When light waves move through space, there are no particles to move. Sunlight gets to the earth by moving through space. Sunlight brings the earth energy and information.