Lesson Plan

Define a mechanical wave and a medium and explain how the two are related

Distinguish a pulse wave from a periodic wave and give examples of each

Distinguish a transverse wave from a longitudinal wave by comparing the disturbance direction to the direction of propagation

Classify real-world waves (sound, light, water, earthquakes) by type and explain why light is not a mechanical wave

13.1

"A wave is a disturbance that travels or propagates from the place where it was created. Waves transfer energy from one place to another, but they do not necessarily transfer any mass." "Sound and water waves are mechanical waves; meaning, they require a medium to travel through. The medium may be a solid, a liquid, or a gas, and the speed of the wave depends on the material properties of the medium through which it is traveling. However, light is not a mechanical wave; it can travel through a vacuum such as the empty parts of outer space." "A pulse wave is a sudden disturbance in which only one wave or a few waves are generated, such as in the example of the pebble. ... A periodic wave repeats the same oscillation for several cycles, such as in the case of the wave pool, and is associated with simple harmonic motion." "A transverse wave propagates so that the disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of propagation. ... In contrast, in a longitudinal wave, the disturbance is parallel to the direction of propagation." "The longitudinal waves in an earthquake are called pressure or P-waves, and the transverse waves are called shear or S-waves."