Waves & Energy

Part 2
Learning Targets and Success Criteria

Learning Target 1: Waves carry energy and exist in more than

one form.
Success Criteria:
a) Describe and identify the parts of a wave
b) Give examples of and describe the similarities and differences
between transverse waves and longitudinal waves
c) Describe how energy is transferred within a wave
d) Provide examples of energy transfers from a wave to another
object or substance
e) Classify waves based on whether or not they require a medium
to be transmitted
Mechanical & Electromagnetic Waves
Mechanical vs. Electromagnetic waves

It is important to understand that waves transfer energy.

There are two types of waves:
1. Mechanical waves are waves that travel through matter. The
particles of matter vibrate by pushing together and moving apart,
or by moving up and down as the waves travel through them to
transfer the energy through the medium. They require particles
to vibrate. Sound waves cannot be transferred or transmitted
through space. Why?

Ex. Sound waves, water waves, seismic waves, waves that travel
down a rope.
Mechanical vs. Electromagnetic waves

2. Electromagnetic waves involve electric and magnetic fields.

They are waves that can travel through empty space where
matter is NOT present. Electromagnetic waves transfer energy
through space instead of transferring energy from particle to
particle as is done by mechanical waves.

Ex. radio waves, microwaves, infrared rays, visible light,

ultraviolet rays, x-rays, and gamma rays
Transverse & Longitudinal Waves
Transverse Waves - Spring

Your teacher is going to use a spring to demonstrate

how a transverse wave moves. Please describe and
draw what you see.
Also, consider the following questions:
The energy put into the spring moves in which direction?
Does any of the energy travel back?
How is the energy transferred down the spring?
Describe the motion of the coil with the tape on it as the
pulse traveled through it.
Transverse Waves Class Demo

The entire class will form a transverse pulse. Stand shoulder

to shoulder in a straight line. Create a stadium wave. When
the pulse travels through you, which way did you move?

A wave is a series of pulses occurring at regular time intervals.

Have the person on the right end start a new pulse every three
seconds. Describe and draw the motion of this wave.

Complete the rest of the table on transverse waves.

Longitudinal Waves - Spring

Your teacher is now going to use a spring to

demonstrate how a longitudinal wave moves. Please
describe and draw what you see.
Also, consider the following questions:
The energy put into the spring moves in which direction?
Does any of the energy travel back?
How is the energy transferred down the spring?
Describe the motion of the coil with the tape on it as the
pulse traveled through it.
Longitudinal Waves Class Demo

The entire class will form a longitudinal wave. Line up in a

single file. Place your hands on the shoulders of the person in
front of you. The person at the back of the line will send some
energy to the person at the front of the line by nudging the
person in front of them. When the pulse travels through you,
which way do you move?
A wave is a series of pulses occurring at regular time intervals.
Have the person in the back start a new pulse every two
seconds. Describe and draw the motion of this wave.
Complete the rest of the table on longitudinal waves.
Categorizing Waves

Turn to the Summary Graphic Organizer in your notes.

Complete the first two rows of the graphic organizer. You
will return later to complete the examples.
Energy
How is energy transferred within a
wave?
Energy is transferred when particles vibrate and run into each
other. Wavescantransfer energyover distance without
moving matter the entire distance. For example, an ocean
wave can travel many kilometers without the water itself
moving many kilometers. The water moves up and downa
motion known as a disturbance. It is the disturbance that
travels in a wave,transferring energy.
Watch these videos and describe how the energy is passed from
one bar to the next
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f66syH8B9D8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbgnxzmIL5c
How do waves transfer energy to other
objects?
We will take a look at four examples:
1. Seismic waves
2. Ocean Waves
3. Sound waves
4. Light waves
This animation quickly shows how particles move in each
type of wave:
http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/Demos/waves/wavemotion.html
Energy Transfer in Seismic Waves

A seismic wave shakes the Watch these animations for an

ground. When the ground example
shakes, energy is transferred https://www.youtube.com/wat
from the ground to buildings ch?v=4nS10xNBfVE
and can make the buildings https://www.youtube.com/wat
fall down. Seismic waves ch?v=4Xebwzb3dDE
can also create tsunamis,
cause landslides and damage
trees. All of this occurs
because of ENERGY
TRANSFER.
Energy Transfer in Ocean Waves

When the wave crashes on Watch these animations to

the beach it can move observe the motion:
objects (sand, rocks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7
yPTa8qi5X8
driftwood your sand shovel,
https://www.classzone.com/books/e
etc.). The larger the wave, arth_science/terc/content/visualizati
the more energy that is ons/es1604/es1604page01.cfm?chapte
r_no=visualization
transferred and the more
damage that can be done. A
very large ocean wave is
called a tsunami.
Energy Transfer in Sound Waves

Sound waves, like all Watch this video to

waves, are created by further understand:
vibrating particles. When https://www.youtube.com/
the vibrating particles watch?v=qgdqp-oPb1Q
reach your ears the sound
wave energy is
transformed into
electrical energy and sent
to your brain.
Energy in Light Waves
Light is tricky, because it does When you go outside and can
not just act like a wave; it
also acts like a particle. Watch
this video to understand how.
https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=J1yIApZtLos
This video gives some basics of
the electromagnetic spectrum
https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=m4t7gTmBK3g
feel the sun warming your
skin, that is an example of
energy transfer from a light
energy to heat energy.
There are several other
examples as well: Getting
sunburned, plantsusing
sunlight to make food, the
sun heating the atmosphere
tocreate wind, or when
sunlight hits a solar panel
and is made into electricity.
How does a change in energy change
a wave?
Amplitude: Which wave has more
energy?
Frequency: Which wave has more
energy?
Summary Questions

Complete the worksheet.

Do not forget to go back and complete the graphic
organizer!