Summary and Main Ideas

Summary

A wave is formed when a continuous number of pulses are transmitted through a medium.
A crest is the highest point a particle in the medium rises to.
A trough is the lowest point a particle in the medium sinks to.
In a transverse wave, the particles move perpendicular to the motion of the wave.
The amplitude ($A$) is the maximum distance from equilibrium position to a crest (or trough), or the maximum displacement of a particle in a wave from its position of rest.
The wavelength ($λ$) is the distance between any two adjacent points on a wave that are in phase. It is measured in metres ($\text{m}$).
The period ($T$) of a wave is the time it takes a wavelength to pass a fixed point. It is measured in seconds ($\text{s}$).
The frequency ($f$) of a wave is how many waves pass a point in a second. It is measured in hertz ($\text{Hz}$) or $\text{s$^{-1}$}$.
Frequency: $f = \frac{1}{T}$
Period: $T = \frac{1}{f}$
Speed: $v = f·λ$ or $v = \frac{λ}{T}$.

Table: Units used in transverse waves

Physical Quantities
Quantity	Unit name	Unit symbol
Amplitude ($A$)	metre	$\text{m}$
Wavelength ($λ$)	metre	$\text{m}$
Period ($T$)	second	$\text{s}$
Frequency ($f$)	hertz	Hz ($\text{s$^{-1}$}$)
Wave speed ($v$)	metre per second	$\text{m·s$^{-1}$}$

This lesson is part of:

Mechanical Waves and Sound

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Physical Quantities
Quantity	Unit name	Unit symbol
Amplitude (\(A\))	metre	\(\text{m}\)
Wavelength (\(λ\))	metre	\(\text{m}\)
Period (\(T\))	second	\(\text{s}\)
Frequency (\(f\))	hertz	Hz (\(\text{s$^{-1}$}\))
Wave speed (\(v\))	metre per second	\(\text{m·s$^{-1}$}\)