Properties Of Waves

Amplitude

Amplitude is the maximum displacement from the rest or central position, in either directions.

• SI unit is metre
• Scalar quantity

 

Frequency

Frequency (f) is defined as the number of complete waves produced per unit time.

• SI unit is hertz (Hz) – 1 Hz = 1 complete cycle per second
• Scalar quantity
• Determined by the source (for water waves)

 

Wavelength

Wavelength (λ) is the distance between corresponding points of two consecutive waves.

• SI unit is metre
• Scalar quantity

 

Speed

Speed of the wave propagation is defined as the distance travelled by a wave per unit time.

• SI unit is metre per second (m s^-1)
• Scalar quantity

 

Period

Period (T) is defined as the time taken to produce one complete wave.

• SI unit is second (s)
• Scalar quantity
• $T = \frac{1}{f}$

 

Velocity

Velocity is the distance travelled by a wave in one second.

• SI unit is metres per second (m s^-1)
• Vector quantity
• $v = f \lambda$ (Important!)