Wave Energy

Waves have different energy

• Waves with lots of energy look and feel different than waves that have little energy.

• Ex) breeze making waves in a pool (little energy)

• Someone doing a cannonball and making waves in the pool (lots of energy)

• Slinky example!

Amplitude

• Related to the waves height

• The more energy = the higher the amplitude

• Think about fluffing a sheet

• Jump rope example

Wavelength

• The distance between 2 crests

• More energy = shorter wavelength (because the waves are coming along faster and closer together)

• Slinky/ jump rope example

Frequency

• The number of waves produced in a given time

• More energy = higher frequency (or more waves)

Recap

• MORE ENERGY = – Shorter wavelength– Higher amplitude– Higher frequency

Frequency and Wavelength• Are OPPOSITES!

• High frequency = shorter wavelengths

• The more energy the waves have, the faster they come and the faster they come, they closer they are together so they have smaller wavelengths

• High frequency = low or short wavelength• Low frequency = high or long wavelength

Mechanical wave

• Wave that travel through a medium

• Ex) ocean waves travel through water• Earthquake waves travel through the ground• Sound waves travel through the air

Electromagnetic Wave

• Do not need a medium

• Ex)light waves, microwaves, x-rays, tv and radio waves

Venn Diagram

• Compare and contrast electromagnetic and mechanical waves in a venn diagram