Final answer:
Waves can be classified as transverse or longitudinal, with transverse waves featuring perpendicular motion relative to wave propagation and longitudinal waves featuring parallel motion. Characteristics of waves include amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period, and wave speed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Waves and Their Characteristics
There are two primary types of waves: transverse waves and longitudinal waves. Each type has unique characteristics that distinguish them.
Transverse waves are characterized by the disturbance moving perpendicular to the direction of the wave's propagation. Examples include light waves and water waves. Key parts of a transverse wave include the crest (highest point), trough (lowest point), amplitude (the distance from the midpoint to the crest or trough), wavelength (the distance between consecutive crests or troughs), and wave direction.
Longitudinal waves, on the other hand, feature particles of the medium moving parallel to the wave's direction. Sound waves are a primary example. They consist of compressions (areas where particles are close together) and rarefactions (areas where particles are spread apart), with wavelength defined as the distance between consecutive compressions or rarefactions.
Other key characteristics of waves include frequency, which is the number of waves passing a point per second (measured in Hertz), and period, which is the time it takes for one complete wave cycle. Wave speed can be calculated based on the frequency and wavelength of the wave.