What is a wave?
![Picture](/uploads/5/3/8/1/53818391/wave-art.jpg?156)
Believe it or not, a wave is not just something you find in the ocean. A wave is actually just the movement of energy through any medium. A medium is a substance, like water, sound or light. Waves are put in motion by a disturbance, or something that adds energy to the medium. An example of a disturbance is wind blowing across water. The wave has a rolling shape (or WAVY shape) because of the energy moving through it. Only the energy moves, the substance stays in place. Do you still have some questions? Click here!
What are the parts of a wave?
As you can see, there are many parts of the wave! Here are a few important ones...
- The crest is the top of the wave, otherwise known as the highest point.
- The trough is the lowest point between two crests.
- The wavelength is the distance from one crest to another crest.
- The wave height is the distance from the bottom of a trough to the top of a crest.
- A period is the time it takes for one wavelength to pass a point that doesn't move.
Continue to 'How do Waves Form?" by clicking here.