Wave facts for kids

A wave is a kind of oscillation (disturbance) that travels through space and matter. Wave motions transfer energy from one place to another.

Waves play an important role in our daily life. This is because waves are a carrier of energy and information over large distances. Waves require some oscillating or vibrating source. Ocean surface waves were the first known waves. Later, other kinds were discovered.

Types of waves

• In physics and technology, a wave (physics) carries energy that creates visible light, sound, and many other things

There are two categories of waves.

• Mechanical waves
• Electromagnetic waves

Mechanical waves

Waves which require any medium for their propagation are called mechanical waves.

For example:

Water waves, sound waves, and waves produced on the string and spring.

• Earthquakes produce seismic waves
• A wave in the water, such as an ocean surface wave, is a disturbance on the surface (top) of water,

Electromagnetic waves

Waves which do not require any medium for their propagation are called electromagnetic waves.

For example:

• Radio waves and other electromagnetic radiation carry one type of energy. X-rays, heat and light waves are some examples of electromagnetic waves.

Images for kids

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  Surface waves in water showing water ripples

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  Sound pressure standing wave in a half-open pipe playing the 7th harmonic of the fundamental (n = 4)

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  Amplitude modulation can be achieved through f(x,t) = 1.00*sin(2*pi/0.10*(x-1.00*t)) and g(x,t) = 1.00*sin(2*pi/0.11*(x-1.00*t))only the resultant is visible to improve clarity of waveform.

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  Sinusoidal waves correspond to simple harmonic motion.

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  Standing wave. The red dots represent the wave nodes

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  Light beam exhibiting reflection, refraction, transmission and dispersion when encountering a prism

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  Sinusoidal traveling plane wave entering a region of lower wave velocity at an angle, illustrating the decrease in wavelength and change of direction (refraction) that results.

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  Schematic of light being dispersed by a prism. Click to see animation.

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  300 px

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  A propagating wave packet; in general, the envelope of the wave packet moves at a different speed than the constituent waves.

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  Animation showing the effect of a cross-polarized gravitational wave on a ring of test particles

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  The red square moves with the phase velocity, while the green circles propagate with the group velocity

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  A wave with the group and phase velocities going in different directions

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  Identical waves from two sources undergoing interference. Observed at the bottom one sees 5 positions where the waves add in phase, but in between which they are out of phase and cancel.

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  One-dimensional standing waves; the fundamental mode and the first 5 overtones.

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  A two-dimensional standing wave on a disk; this is the fundamental mode.

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  A standing wave on a disk with two nodal lines crossing at the center; this is an overtone.

See also

In Spanish: Onda para niños