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23.2 Waves
23.2
A wave is a traveling oscillator that carries energy from one place to another. A high point of a wave is called a
crest. A low point is called a trough. The amplitude of a wave is half the distance from a crest to a trough. The
distance from one crest to the next is called the wavelength. Wavelength can also be measured from trough to
trough or from any point on the wave to the next place where that point occurs.
The frequency of a wave is 40 Hz and its speed is 100 meters per second. What is the wavelength of this
wave?
Solution:
100 m/s
40 Hz
100 m/s
40 cycles/s
2.5 meters per cycle
The wavelength is 2.5 meters.
1.
On the graphic at right label the following
parts of a wave: one wavelength, half of a
wavelength, the amplitude, a crest, and a
trough.
a.
How many wavelengths are represented
in the wave above?
b.
What is the amplitude of the wave shown
above?