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For a transverse wave, the wavelength is determined by measuring from crest to crest. A longitudinal wave does not have crest; so how can its wavelength be determined? The wavelength can always be determined by measuring the distance between any two corresponding points on adjacent waves.
Review the characteristics of periodic transverse and longitudinal waves such as wavelength, crest, trough, amplitude, expansion, and compression.
The wavelength measures the distance between two successive crests (or troughs) as the wave travels through the medium. Waves have a velocity (v wave ). The wave velocity is a measure of how long it takes for the energy to pass from one atom to another.
This has the mathematical form. \ [h (x) = h0sin (2πx ∕λ), \label {1.1}\] where \ (h \) is the displacement (which can be either longitudinal or transverse), \ (h\) 0 is the maximum displacement, also called the amplitude of the wave, and \ (λ \) is the wavelength .
Define amplitude, frequency, period, wavelength, and velocity of a wave; Relate wave frequency, period, wavelength, and velocity; Solve problems involving wave properties
the wavelength is the distance between successive points (where the point repeats itself) on a wave. You can use the peak of a pair of crests as a reference point, the nodes following crests, whatever. So long as you measure the distance between two nearest identical points.
The distance between equivalent positions on succeeding waves is called the wavelength. The wavelength could be measured from a crest to the next crest or from a trough to the next trough, and is commonly represented with the Greek letter lambda, λ.
Transverse Polarization: A material wave is transverse if the displacement from equilibrium is perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling. Below is a transverse wave since the wave is traveling to the right, while the oscillations in the medium are vertical, or perpendicular to the motion.
To measure a wavelength: Use a photometer to measure the energy of a wave. Convert the energy into joules (J). Divide the energy by Planck’s constant, 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J⋅Hz⁻¹, to get the frequency of the wave. Divide the speed of light, ~300,000,000 m/s, by the frequency to get wavelength.
The wavelength of a transverse wave can be measured as the distance between two adjacent crests. The wavelength of a longitudinal wave can be measured as the distance between two adjacent compressions. Short-wavelength waves have more energy than long-wavelength waves of the same amplitude.