Vibrations & Waves

Understanding mechanical vibrations, waves, and resonance

Topics

How do sound waves travel?

Sound waves travel by creating compressions and rarefactions in a medium like air, water, or solid materials. These pressure variations propagate outward from the source, transferring energy as they move.

How does resonance work?

Resonance occurs when an object is forced to vibrate at its natural frequency, causing it to oscillate with maximum amplitude. This happens when the frequency of an applied force matches the object's natural frequency.

What is amplitude?

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position. For sound waves, amplitude determines volume (loudness), and for light waves, it determines brightness.

What is frequency?

Frequency is the number of complete wave cycles that pass a given point per second. It's measured in hertz (Hz) and determines the pitch of sound waves and the color of light waves.