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written by Tom Henderson
This item is an interactive tutorial for high school physics/physical science on wave categories.  It gives detailed explanations of three major types of mechanical waves: transverse, longitudinal, and surface waves. Also included is a brief discussion of electromagnetic waves.  Two animations accompany the text, plus a self-paced question-and-answer sequence at the end.  

This item is part of respected Physics Classroom, a web-based collection of tutorials for high school physics students.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Oscillations & Waves
- Wave Motion
= Longitudinal Pulses and Waves
= Transfer of Energy in Waves
= Transverse Pulses and Waves
- High School
- Middle School
- Instructional Material
= Problem/Problem Set
= Tutorial
- Audio/Visual
= Movie/Animation
Appropriate Courses Categories Ratings
- Physical Science
- Physics First
- Conceptual Physics
- Algebra-based Physics
- Activity
- Assessment
- New teachers
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Intended Users:
Learner
Educator
Formats:
text/html
image/gif
Access Rights:
Free access
Restriction:
© 1996 Tom Henderson
Keywords:
longitudinal waves, problem set, surface waves, transverse waves, tutorial, wave energy, wave types
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created March 6, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:
October 26, 2011 by Caroline Hall
Last Update
when Cataloged:
December 12, 2008

This resource is part of 2 Physics Front Topical Units.


Topic: Wave Energy
Unit Title: Types of Mechanical Waves

This tutorial, part of the respected Physics Classroom web site, explores the three major types of mechanical waves:  transverse, longitudinal, and surface.  Also included is a brief discussion of electromagnetic waves. The author uses simple language and animations to make points clear, and there is a self-guided set of questions at the end.

Links to Units:

Topic: Wave Energy
Unit Title: Types of Mechanical Waves

This interactive tutorial introduces students to three major types of mechanical waves:  transverse, longitudinal, and surface.  The text is easy for beginners to understand and is accompanied by animations of wave motion and a self-guided set of questions to assess understanding.

Link to Unit:
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Record Link
AIP Format
T. Henderson, (1996), WWW Document, (https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/u10l1c.cfm).
AJP/PRST-PER
T. Henderson, The Physics Classroom: Categories of Waves (1996), <https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/u10l1c.cfm>.
APA Format
Henderson, T. (2008, December 12). The Physics Classroom: Categories of Waves. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/u10l1c.cfm
Chicago Format
Henderson, Tom. The Physics Classroom: Categories of Waves. December 12, 2008. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/u10l1c.cfm (accessed 12 November 2024).
MLA Format
Henderson, Tom. The Physics Classroom: Categories of Waves. 1996. 12 Dec. 2008. 12 Nov. 2024 <https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/u10l1c.cfm>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Tom Henderson", Title = {The Physics Classroom: Categories of Waves}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {12 November 2024}, Month = {December 12, 2008}, Year = {1996} }
Refer Export Format

%A Tom Henderson %T The Physics Classroom:  Categories of Waves %D December 12, 2008 %U https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/u10l1c.cfm %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Henderson, Tom %D December 12, 2008 %T The Physics Classroom:  Categories of Waves %V 2024 %N 12 November 2024 %8 December 12, 2008 %9 text/html %U https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/u10l1c.cfm


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The Physics Classroom: Categories of Waves:

Has Student Extra Flickr Physics

Visit The Physics Classroom's Flickr Galleries and enjoy a photo overview of the topic of waves.

relation by Tom Henderson
Has Teaching Guide The Laboratory

Looking for a lab that coordinates with this page? Try the Wave Motion Lab from The Laboratory.

relation by Tom Henderson
Has Teaching Guide Curriculum Corner

Learning requires action. Give your students this sense-making activity from The Curriculum Corner.

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Has Teaching Guide Treasures from TPF

Need ideas? Need help? Explore The Physics Front's treasure box of catalogued resources on Types of Mechanical Waves.

relation by Tom Henderson
Has Student Extra Wave Animations

View four animations that distinguish between longitudinal waves, transverse waves, water waves and surface waves.

relation by Tom Henderson

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