Common Misconceptions

⚠️ Common Misconceptions

Misconception 1: "Waves transfer matter"

Waves transfer ENERGY, not matter. In a water wave, the water molecules move in circles and return to their original positions — no net movement of water occurs in the direction the wave travels. The Mexican wave analogy makes this clear: people move up and down, but nobody runs around the stadium.

Misconception 2: "Frequency changes when a wave enters a new medium"

Frequency is fixed by the source. When light enters glass, its speed and wavelength both decrease, but frequency stays the same. Think of it like cars entering a traffic jam — cars slow down and bunch up (shorter wavelength) but the rate at which cars leave the motorway junction (frequency) stays the same.

Misconception 3: "Amplitude and frequency are related"

They are completely independent. A loud, low-frequency sound has large amplitude but low frequency. A quiet, high-pitched sound has small amplitude and high frequency. Amplitude controls energy/intensity; frequency controls pitch/colour.