Waves is made of periodic motion, which is a motion repeated at regular motion.The source of any wave is a vibration or oscillation. Waves transfer energy through a medium. Kinetic energy is transferred by waves but the medium is not transferred.
There are two types of waves: transverse and longitudinal waves.
Transverse waves move up and down and the wave motion is perpendicular to the direction of vibration.
Longitudinal waves are a bit different. Waves push and pull, compress and expand.The wave motion is parallel to the direction of vibration.
There are some terms that can describe a transverse wave. There are crest, troughs, phase, wavelength and amplitude. They are depicted in the diagram below.
Crest, Troughs: The highest and lowest point of a transverse wave, respectively.
Phase: Any two points are to be in phase when they move in the same direction and have the same speed and displacement from rest position.
Wavelength(λ): The shortest distance between any two points in a wave that are in phase, such as two successive crest or troughs.
Amplitude: The maximum displacement from rest or center position. It is the height of a crest or depth of a trough measured from the rest position.
Frequency = 1 / T where T = period
Wave speed(v) = λ / T where λ = wavelength
Waves, like light, can reflect and refract. In the refraction of waves, a difference in the depth of water causes a change in speed of waves. The wavelength as well as the speed will increase or decrease but the frequency will remain the same.
The reflection of waves is similar to light. Incoming incident waves are reflected by a barrier and are reflected away.
Sources:
'Discover Physics for GCE'O' Level Science' (2007) ~ Marshall Cavendish Education
http://passmyexams.co.uk/
http://www.physics.ubc.ca/
http://www.science-class.net/Notes/Images_8th_Notes/Transverse-Wave.png
http://www.school-for-champions.com/
http://www.gcsescience.com/
very informative i like it
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