Describe the physical properties of waves and wave pulses.

• Waves transfer energy between two locations without transferring matter between those locations.
• A wave pulse is a single disturbance that transfers energy without transferring matter between two locations.
• A wave is modeled as a continuous, periodic disturbance with well-defined wavelength and frequency.
• Mechanical waves or wave pulses require a medium in which to propagate. Electromagnetic waves or wave pulses do not require a medium in which to propagate.
• The speed at which a wave or wave pulse propagates through a medium depends on the type of wave and the properties of the medium.
• The speed of all electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is a universal physical constant, c = 3.00×10⁸ m/s.
• The speed at which a wave pulse or wave propagates along a string is dependent upon the tension in the string, F_T, and the mass per length of the string. Relevant equation:
• In a given medium, the speed of sound waves increases with the temperature of the medium.
• In a transverse wave, the direction of the disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.
• In a longitudinal wave, the direction of the disturbance is parallel to the direction of propagation of the wave.
• Sound waves are modeled as mechanical longitudinal waves.
• The regions of high and low pressure in a sound wave are called compressions and rarefactions, respectively.
• Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position.
• The amplitude of a longitudinal pressure wave may be determined by the maximum increase or decrease in pressure from equilibrium pressure.
• The loudness of a sound increases with increasing amplitude.
• The energy carried by a wave increases with increasing amplitude.

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