What are the properties of waves?

Waves have properties such as amplitude, wavelength, frequency, speed, and they can be transverse or longitudinal.

Waves are disturbances that transfer energy from one place to another without transferring matter. The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its rest position. It is related to the energy of the wave; a larger amplitude means more energy. For example, in sound waves, a higher amplitude results in a louder sound.

The wavelength is the distance between two corresponding points on consecutive waves, such as crest to crest or trough to trough. It is usually measured in metres. The frequency of a wave is the number of waves that pass a point in one second, measured in hertz (Hz). Higher frequency means more waves per second.

Wave speed is how fast the wave travels through a medium, calculated by multiplying the frequency by the wavelength. Different types of waves travel at different speeds depending on the medium. For instance, light waves travel faster in a vacuum than in air or water.

Waves can be classified as transverse or longitudinal. In transverse waves, the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel, like ripples on a pond or light waves. In longitudinal waves, the oscillations are parallel to the direction of wave travel, such as sound waves in air, where compressions and rarefactions move along the direction of the wave.

Understanding these properties helps us analyse and predict wave behaviour in various contexts, from everyday phenomena like sound and light to advanced applications in technology and science.