Waves and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Waves

Transverse waves

Move perpendicular to the direction the wave travels

Most waves are transverse

All electromagnetic waves

S-waves

Ripples and waves in water

Longitudinal waves

move parallel to the direction the wave travels

Examples

sound waves

P-waves

Longitudinal waves squash up and stretch out the arrangement of particles in the medium they pass through, making compressions (high pressure, lots of particles) and rarefactions (low pressure, fewer particles).

Equation

Wave speed = Frequency * Wavelength

v = x/t

v = wave speed (m/s)

x = distance (m)

t = time (s)

v = f * lambda

f = frequency (Hz)

lambda = wavelength (m)