3.4

3.4 - recall that waves transfer energy and information without transferring matter

• This diagram shows a small red boat on a very wavy sea

Transverse waves - each molecule of wave moves perpendicular to the direction of the flow of energy

Longitudinal waves - energy travels parallel to direction spring/wave is moving

3.3 amplitude, frequency and wavelength

3.3 - State the meaning of amplitude, frequency, wavelength and period of a wave

Amplitude - The maximum displacement of a wave

Frequency (f) - How many cycles of a wave occur per second (in Hz)

Wavelength (λ) - The distance between the peak of a wave and the next peak.

In this graph, the "time" axis should be "distance".

b) The wavelength of a wave is the distance between two successive peaks (or crests). The frequency of a vibration is measured in Hertz or cycles per second