characteristics of waves

a wave is a disturbance that carries energy through matter of space. a transverse wave is energy that is transmitted by an oscillation that is perpandicular to the direction the wave is moving. a longitudinal wave is energy transmitted by an oscillation parrallel to the direction the wave is moving. a harmonic wave is a wave in the shape of a sine function. the frequency is the number of complete oscillation a wave makes each second. period is the amount of time it takes for one oscillation. the wavelength is the distance from the top of a pulse to the top of the next pulse. the amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a wave from its position of rest.


pulse wave                                     pulse train                                         harmonic wave




transverse harmonic wave                longitudinal harmonic wave