Summarizing Waves

Summary

• A wave is a disturbance that moves from the point of creation with a wave velocity \({v}_{\text{w}}\).
• A wave has a wavelength \(\lambda \), which is the distance between adjacent identical parts of the wave.
• Wave velocity and wavelength are related to the wave’s frequency and period by \({v}_{\text{w}}=\cfrac{\lambda }{T}\) or \({v}_{\text{w}}=\mathrm{f\lambda }.\)
• A transverse wave has a disturbance perpendicular to its direction of propagation, whereas a longitudinal wave has a disturbance parallel to its direction of propagation.

Glossary

longitudinal wave

a wave in which the disturbance is parallel to the direction of propagation

transverse wave

a wave in which the disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of propagation

wave velocity

the speed at which the disturbance moves. Also called the propagation velocity or propagation speed

wavelength

the distance between adjacent identical parts of a wave