Introduction to Waves - SS3 Physics Past Questions and Answers - page 2

This is the kind of mechanical wave that involves the particles of the medium travelling perpendicularly to the direction of the wave’s propagation.

This is the kind of mechanical wave in which the particles of the medium travels parallel to the direction of the propagation of the wave.

Amplitude is the maximum displacement a particle experiences from its equilibrium

• Period of a wave is the time taken for the wave to complete one cycle. It is denoted by “T” and is measured in seconds. It is the reciprocal of the frequency. Thus, T = 1/f 

• Phase of a wave refers to any one point in a recurring series of motions of the particles constituting a displacement.

• Speed of a wave refers to how quickly a wave propagates through its medium. It is influenced by the features of the medium and the wave itself. 

• Wavefront of a wave refers to any cross-section of the advancing wave in which all particles are in the same phase.