How does waves carry energy

Nuclear Fuels. Acid Rain. Climate Change. Climate Feedback. Ocean Acidification. Rising Sea Level. August 18, Crest Trough [Online]. Travelling Waves [Online]. For the same reasons, a high energy ocean wave can do considerable damage to the rocks and piers along the shoreline when it crashes upon it.

The amount of energy carried by a wave is related to the amplitude of the wave. A high energy wave is characterized by a high amplitude; a low energy wave is characterized by a low amplitude. As discussed earlier in Lesson 2 , the amplitude of a wave refers to the maximum amount of displacement of a particle on the medium from its rest position. The logic underlying the energy-amplitude relationship is as follows: If a slinky is stretched out in a horizontal direction and a transverse pulse is introduced into the slinky, the first coil is given an initial amount of displacement.

The displacement is due to the force applied by the person upon the coil to displace it a given amount from rest. The more work that is done upon the first coil, the more displacement that is given to it. The more displacement that is given to the first coil, the more amplitude that it will have.

So in the end, the amplitude of a transverse pulse is related to the energy which that pulse transports through the medium. Putting a lot of energy into a transverse pulse will not effect the wavelength, the frequency or the speed of the pulse.

The energy imparted to a pulse will only affect the amplitude of that pulse. Consider two identical slinkies into which a pulse is introduced. If the same amount of energy is introduced into each slinky, then each pulse will have the same amplitude. Waves are described using the following terms:. Types of waves Waves are one of the ways in which energy may be transferred between stores.

For example: sound waves cause air particles to vibrate back and forth ripples cause water particles to vibrate up and down The direction of these oscillations is the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves. Parts of a wave Waves are described using the following terms: Peak - the highest point above the rest position. Trough - the lowest point below the rest position.

Activity ideas Use a Mexican wave to demonstrate how waves transfer energy and to help your students visualise the wave behaviours of reflection, constructive interference and shoaling. More on waves Explore more about waves, such as sound and energy by browsing the resources under our waves concept.

Useful links In NIWA ran a webinar: A step closer to a future powered by tidal current energy , in which the results of the Energy from tidal currents project are presented. Go to full glossary Add 0 items to collection. Download 0 items. Twitter Pinterest Facebook Instagram. Email Us.

See our newsletters here. Would you like to take a short survey? This survey will open in a new tab and you can fill it out after your visit to the site.