Waves are fundamental phenomena that transfer energy through matter or space without permanently displacing the medium they travel through.
Physics wave properties include amplitude (height of wave from equilibrium), wavelength (distance between two corresponding points), frequency (number of waves per second), and speed (distance traveled per unit time). These properties help describe how waves behave and interact with different materials. Two main categories of waves exist: mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.
Mechanical waves require a medium to travel through, like water waves or sound waves. They can be further classified into transverse waves and longitudinal waves. In transverse waves, particles move perpendicular to the direction of wave travel, like waves on a rope or ocean surface waves. Longitudinal waves involve particles moving parallel to the wave direction, with compressions and rarefactions, like sound waves which are longitudinal in nature. Electromagnetic waves differ fundamentally from mechanical waves as they can travel through a vacuum and don't require a medium. Examples include visible light, radio waves, and X-rays. These waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space at the speed of light.
Wave behavior includes important phenomena such as reflection (waves bouncing off surfaces), refraction (waves changing direction when entering different mediums), diffraction (waves bending around obstacles), and interference (waves combining to form new wave patterns). Understanding these properties is crucial in various applications, from medical ultrasound to telecommunications. The study of waves helps explain numerous natural phenomena, from how we hear sounds to how light travels from distant stars. In GCSE Physics, students learn to calculate wave speed using the equation: wave speed = frequency × wavelength, and understand how different wave types interact with matter differently.
