waves. whats the deal with wave classification?

What’s the What’s the deal with deal with

WAVE WAVE classification?classification?

How are How are WAVES WAVES classifieclassifie

d?d?

Waves can be Waves can be classified by WHAT classified by WHAT

they move through or they move through or by HOW energy by HOW energy

moves through them.moves through them.

red wordsred words= vocabulary= vocabulary

ClassificatiClassification of on of

WAVES WAVES by by WHATWHAT they they

move move throughthrough

What’s the deal with WAVE What’s the deal with WAVE classification?classification?

There are twoThere are two classifications classifications for for waveswaves

based on what they based on what they move move throughthrough: :

• Mechanical WavesMechanical Waves•Electromagnetic WavesElectromagnetic Waves


What are What are mechanicmechanic

al al WAVESWAVES??

Mechanical wavesMechanical waves are are waveswaves that can that can ONLYONLY move move throughthrough a a mediummedium (through (through

mattermatter).).red wordsred words= vocabulary= vocabulary

Mechanical wavesMechanical waves requirerequire the the particlesparticles of of the the mediummedium to to vibratevibrate in order for in order for energyenergy to to

be be transferredtransferred..


What are What are examples examples

mechanical mechanical WAVESWAVES??

• water waveswater waves•earthquake/seismic wavesearthquake/seismic waves

• sound wavessound waves•waves that travel down a waves that travel down a

rope or springrope or spring

All of these examples All of these examples CANNOTCANNOT move through empty space.move through empty space.

What isWhat is EMPTY EMPTY SPACESPACE??

Empty spaceEmpty space is space is space in which in which NO MATTERNO MATTER is present. Another is present. Another

name for this is name for this is a a vacuumvacuum..


What areWhat are electromagnelectromagn

etic etic WAVESWAVES??

Electromagnetic wavesElectromagnetic waves are are waveswaves that can that can

travel through travel through mattermatter or or empty spaceempty space where where mattermatter is is not presentnot present..


What are What are examples of examples of

electromagneelectromagnetic WAVEStic WAVES??

• radio wavesradio waves• microwavesmicrowaves

• infrared wavesinfrared waves• visible lightvisible light

• ultraviolet raysultraviolet rays• X-raysX-rays

ClassificatioClassification of n of WAVES WAVES

by by HOWHOW energy energy moves moves

through through themthem

There are twoThere are two classifications classifications for for waveswaves based on how based on how

energy energy moves through moves through them: them: • Compressional/Longitudinal Compressional/Longitudinal

WavesWaves• Transverse WavesTransverse Waves


What are What are compressionacompressional/ longitudinal l/ longitudinal

WAVESWAVES??

Mechanical wavesMechanical waves in which the in which the particlesparticles of of mattermatter in the in the mediummedium vibratevibrate by by pushing togetherpushing together and and

moving apartmoving apart parallelparallel to the to the directiondirection in which the wave in which the wave

travelstravels are called are called compressional/longitudinal wavescompressional/longitudinal waves..


http://www.lcse.umn.edu/specs/labs/glossary_items/rarefaction_spring.htmlhttp://www.lcse.umn.edu/specs/labs/glossary_items/rarefaction_spring.html

The place on the The place on the wavewave that is that is pushed togetherpushed together

is called the is called the compression compression and the place that is and the place that is moving apartmoving apart is the is the

rarefactionrarefaction..


What are What are examples of examples of

compressionalcompressional/ longitudinal / longitudinal

waveswaves??

• sound wavessound waves•some waves in a springsome waves in a spring

• some seismic waves some seismic waves (earthquake waves- (earthquake waves- primary waves, to be primary waves, to be

exact)exact)

What are What are transverstransvers

e e WAVESWAVES??

Mechanical wavesMechanical waves in which the in which the particlesparticles of of mattermatter in the in the

mediummedium vibratevibrate by moving by moving back back and forthand forth and and perpendicularperpendicular ( (at at

right anglesright angles) to the ) to the direction direction the wave travelsthe wave travels are called are called

transverse wavestransverse waves..


science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/waves3.html science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/waves3.html

The The highest pointhighest point of of a a transverse wavetransverse wave is is

the the crestcrest and the and the lowest pointlowest point is is called a called a troughtrough..


What are What are examples of examples of transverse transverse

waveswaves??

What’s the deal with WAVE What’s the deal with WAVE classification?classification?•strings on a musical instrumentstrings on a musical instrument

• waves on a ropewaves on a rope• some waves in a springsome waves in a spring

• some seismic waves some seismic waves (earthquake waves- secondary (earthquake waves- secondary

waves, to be exact)waves, to be exact)

Electromagnetic Electromagnetic waveswaves are are transverse transverse waveswaves that can travel that can travel

without a without a mediummedium through through empty spaceempty space..


Works CitedWorks Cited• Information from the South Carolina Information from the South Carolina

State Science Standards for 8State Science Standards for 8thth Grade Grade• Microsoft Clipart (the background Microsoft Clipart (the background

picture) picture) • http://www.lcse.umn.edu/specs/labs/http://www.lcse.umn.edu/specs/labs/

glossary_items/glossary_items/rarefaction_spring.htmlrarefaction_spring.html

• science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/waves3.htmlems/waves3.html

waves. whats the deal with wave classification?

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