This definitions covers Key Definitions within Wave Properties for GCSE Physics. Revise Wave Properties in Waves for GCSE Physics with 21 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 7 of 13 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
📖 Key Definitions
Wave: A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter.
Amplitude: The maximum displacement of a particle from its rest (equilibrium) position, measured in metres.
Frequency: The number of complete waves passing a point per second, measured in hertz (Hz).
Wavelength (λ): The distance between two successive identical points on a wave (e.g., crest to crest), measured in metres.
Transverse wave: A wave in which particle vibration is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel (e.g., light, water waves).
Longitudinal wave: A wave in which particle vibration is parallel to the direction of wave travel, producing compressions and rarefactions (e.g., sound).
Practice questions for Wave Properties
What do waves transfer from one place to another?
Explain the difference between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.