17.1 Mechanical Waves
What Are Mechanical Waves?
A mechanical wave is a disturbance in
matter that carries energy from one
place to another.
 The material in which a wave travels
through is called a medium.
 A mechanical wave is created when a
source of energy causes a vibration to
travel through a medium.

Types of Mechanical Waves…
Transverse waves
 Longitudinal waves
 Surface waves

Transverse Wave

The highest point above the rest position is
the crest.
 The lowest point below the rest position is the
trough.
Transverse Wave

A transverse wave is a wave that
causes the medium to vibrate at right
angles in the direction that the wave
travels.
Longitudinal Wave

An area where the particles are spaced close
together is called a compression.
 An area where the particles in a medium are
spread out is called a rarefaction.
Longitudinal Wave

A longitudinal wave is a wave in which
the vibration of the medium is parallel to
the direction the wave travels.
Surface Waves
Surface Waves
A surface wave is a wave that travels
along the surface separating two media.
 Example- An ocean surface wave
separates the air and the ocean.

A Quick Review-White Boards
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5.
Draw a transverse wave and put a star
where the crest is, and a smiley face where
the trough is.
Draw a longitudinal wave and label an area
of compression and rarefaction.
The material in which the mechanical wave
travels through is called the ____________.
The type of wave that separates two media
is called a __________________.
The type of wave whose motion moves in a
parallel direction________________.
17.2 Properties of Mechanical
Waves
Period
The time it takes for a complete wave
to pass one point in space
 For an ocean wave, the period is the
time between two crests.
T=1/f

Frequency
The number of waves that pass
through a given point in one unit of
time
 Symbol: f
 Measured in: Hertz (Hz)
 The higher the frequency
The shorter the wavelength

Wavelength

The distance between one wave and
the next
Amplitude
The size of the waves disturbance
 The more energy a wave has, the
greater its amplitude.

Copy the Wave Diagram
amplitude
Medium