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Explore The Kits Wave Properties
LESSON MATERIALS
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Wave Properties
What you will learn from this videoWhat you will learn
- Waves are one way energy is moved from place to place.
- Amplitude is the height of the wave.
- Wavelength is the distance between wave peaks.
- The sound we hear is a type of wave that travels through the air.
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Discussion Questions
- Before VideoWhat are waves?ANSWER
Waves are regular patterns of motion that transfer energy from place to place without transferring matter. Waves exhibit repeating patterns.
When talking about waves, amplitude is the height of the wave (above its resting point). How tall or short a wave is.
Wavelength is the distance from the peak of one wave to the peak of the next wave.
Sound is not visible, but it travels as a longitudinal wave that causes air particles to vibrate. The particles vibrate in the form of a wave as the sound travels through the air.
- After VideoDo waves transfer matter?ANSWER
Waves transfer energy, not matter.
Zoe and Izzy use the spring to demonstrate both transverse and longitudinal waves. Water waves are transverse waves and sound waves are longitudinal waves.
When the music is turned on sound waves cause the salt to vibrate just like sound waves cause air particles to vibrate.
When the phone playing music is placed inside the vacuum jar and the vacuum is turned on, all of the air is removed from the jar. Since there are no air particles for the sound waves to travel through, the sound cannot be heard even though the music is still playing.
Transverse waves are a repeating pattern of peaks and troughs. This pattern remains the same although changes to the energy cause the peaks and troughs to get closer together or further apart (wavelength) or the peaks and troughs to be higher or lower (amplitude).
Longitudinal waves are a repeating pattern of compression and expansion. This pattern remains the same although changes to the energy causes the compressed areas to become closer together or further apart (wavelength).
Adding energy to a transverse wave causes the wave to become taller (amplitude increases).
Adding energy to a wave causes the wavelength to become shorter, meaning the waves are closer together (wavelength decreases).
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Vocabulary
- Amplitude DEFINE
The height of a wave. Usually measured from the wave's resting point to the peak of the wave.
- Wavelength DEFINE
The distance between wave peaks. Usually measured from the peak of one wave to the peak of the wave next to it.
- Energy DEFINE
It makes things happen! (Or more formally: the ability to do work)
- Wave Peak DEFINE
The highest point on a wave. Also called the crest.
- Sound Waves DEFINE
Vibrations of air particles that transmit sound. Sound waves are a type of longitudinal wave.
- Transverse Wave DEFINE
When the disturbance moves perpendicular to the direction of the wave. Put simply: When a wave moves up and down.
- Longitudinal Wave DEFINE
When the disturbance moves parallel to the direction of the wave. Put simply: When a wave moves forward and back.
- Particle DEFINE
The smallest possible unit of matter.
- Amplitude DEFINE
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Reading Material
Download as PDF Download PDF View as Seperate PageDEFINITION OF WAVESWaves are a pattern of motion that transfer energy from place to place without transferring matter. There are different types of waves. Sound waves travel through air and allow us to hear sound. Water waves move on top of water. Light waves move in straight lines through space. On this page we will focus on sound and water waves.
To better understand the different types of waves…
DEFINITION OF WAVES. Waves are a pattern of motion that transfer energy from place to place without transferring matter. There are different types of waves. Sound waves travel through air and allow us to hear sound. Water waves move on top of water. Light waves move in straight lines through space. On this page we will focus on sound and water waves. To better understand the different types of waves…LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!
Energy travels through waves.
Waves transport energy, not matter, from place to place. Remember that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.
Particles are required to transport some types of waves, such as sound waves. When the wave travels, the particles do not travel with the wave. It may appear that ocean waves are moving particles of water toward you, but in fact, the water is only moving up and down.
We can test this by placing a heavy ping-pong ball in a wave tank. The waves move from one side of the tank to the other, but the ping-pong ball does not travel, it only moves up and down.
Scientists put waves into two general categories: transverse waves and longitudinal waves. Transverse waves vibrate perpendicular to the direction that the wave travels. Ocean waves are a great example of a transverse wave. “The wave” at a sporting event is also a transverse wave.
Longitudinal waves vibrate in the same direction that the wave travels. Picture standing at one end of a spring toy, with a friend holding the other end. If you pull your end and let go, you will create a compression in the spring that travels down its length. Sounds waves are an example of longitudinal waves.
Energy travels through waves. Waves transport energy, not matter, from place to place. Remember that matter is made of particles too small to be seen. Particles are required to transport some types of waves, such as sound waves. When the wave travels, the particles do not travel with the wave. It may appear that ocean waves are moving particles of water toward you, but in fact, the water is only moving up and down. We can test this by placing a heavy ping-pong ball in a wave tank. The waves move from one side of the tank to the other, but the ping-pong ball does not travel, it only moves up and down. Scientists put waves into two general categories: transverse waves and longitudinal waves. Transverse waves vibrate perpendicular to the direction that the wave travels. Ocean waves are a great example of a transverse wave. “The wave” at a sporting event is also a transverse wave. Longitudinal waves vibrate in the same direction that the wave travels. Picture standing at one end of a spring toy, with a friend holding the other end. If you pull your end and let go, you will create a compression in the spring that travels down its length. Sounds waves are an example of longitudinal waves.Amplitude is the height of the wave.
Amplitude is a measure of the wave’s height. It also tells us how much energy a wave has. Waves with more energy have higher amplitudes.
The amplitude of a sound wave determines the sound’s loudness. When you turn the volume up on the TV, you are increasing the amplitude of the sound waves.
Amplitude is the height of the wave. Amplitude is a measure of the wave’s height. It also tells us how much energy a wave has. Waves with more energy have higher amplitudes. The amplitude of a sound wave determines the sound’s loudness. When you turn the volume up on the TV, you are increasing the amplitude of the sound waves.Wavelength is the distance between wave peaks.
Wavelength measures the distance between wave peaks. The closer the peaks of the wave are to each other, the more energy the waves have. The opposite is also true: when the wavelength is longer, the waves have less energy.
Wavelength is the distance between wave peaks. Wavelength measures the distance between wave peaks. The closer the peaks of the wave are to each other, the more energy the waves have. The opposite is also true: when the wavelength is longer, the waves have less energy.Sound waves travel through the air.