4.1: Waves & Vibrations

Waves transfer energy & momentum from one point to another without transferring any matter  between them.

Types of waves:

• Mechanical (waves are made up of particles vibrating e.g. sound)
• Electromagnetic (waves are made up of oscillating electric & magnetic fields e.g. light)

Mechanical waves require a substance but electromagnetic waves do not. Therefore mechanical waves cannot travel through a vacuum but electromagentic waves can.

• Transverse: displacement is at right angles (perpendicular) to the direction of the wave.
• Longitudinal: displacement is parallel to the direction of the wave

• Progressive: waves…