Wave Features and Fundamentals

Understanding wave features is crucial for KS3 waves questions and KS3 Waves revision. This section covers key concepts like rest position, displacement, and amplitude.

Definition: Waves in physics are oscillations or disturbances that transfer energy from one point to another without permanently displacing the medium's particles.

Wave features include:

1. Rest position: The undisturbed state of particles when not vibrating.
2. Displacement: The distance of a point in the medium from its rest position.
3. Peak/Crest: The highest point above the rest position.
4. Trough: The lowest point below the rest position.
5. Amplitude: The maximum displacement from the rest position, measured in meters.

Vocabulary: Amplify - To increase the amplitude of sound, resulting in a louder effect.

6. Wavelength: The distance of a full wave cycle, measured peak-to-peak or trough-to-trough.
7. Time period: The duration of a full wave cycle.
8. Frequency: The number of waves passing a point per second, measured in hertz (Hz).

Highlight: Waves travel fastest through solids, moderately in liquids, and slowest in gases due to particle density and compactness.

Types of waves include:

1. Transverse waves: Oscillations perpendicular to the wave's direction.
2. Longitudinal waves: Vibrations parallel to the wave's direction.
3. Surface waves: Seismic waves trapped along Earth's interface.

Example: Transverse waves can be visualized as ripples, such as the vibrations of a guitar string.