Waves Summary

Waves all transfer energy from one place to another.
They do this by vibrating something.

There are two types of waves: longitudinal and transverse.
Most waves are transverse.

Longitudinal waves have vibrations in the same direction as the wave motion.

Transverse wave vibrations are at 90° to the direction of the wave.

Wavelength is the distance from one part of a wave and the same point on the next wave along. e.g. peak to peak.

Amplitude is the maximum movement from the original position. For transverse waves this is the height of the wave from the middle.

Frequency is the number of waves per second and it is measured in hertz (Hz).

The speed of a wave can be found by using this formula:

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