Waves could be
transverse or longitudinal
waves can be described mathematically as
y(x,t) = Acos {kx ± ωt}
y(x,t) represents
the transverse motion of matter disturbed by the passage of the wave
wave number
k = 2*pi / lambda
angular frequency
ω = 2pif = 2*pi / T
wave phase
{kx ± ωt}
the wave equation
check notes
the energy when looking at simple harmonic motion
E = 1/2 m v^2 + 1/2 kx^2 = constant
max transverse speed
v = √k/m * A
Huygen’s principle
Every point of an advancing wavefront is a new centre of disturbance from which emanate independent waves in all directions
phase velocity
v = ω/k
group velocity
v = Δω/Δk