Wave motion is the transfer of energy through a medium by the periodic movement of particles or disturbances. It can be observed in various forms such as water waves, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves.
Wave motion works by the propagation of energy through a medium. This energy is transferred from one particle to another, causing the particles to oscillate in a periodic manner. The wave itself is not a physical entity, but rather a disturbance that travels through the medium.
The characteristics of wave motion include amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed. Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a wave, wavelength is the distance between two adjacent crests or troughs, frequency is the number of waves passing a fixed point in a given amount of time, and speed is the rate at which the wave travels through the medium.
Wave motion and particle motion are fundamentally different. While wave motion involves the transfer of energy through a medium, particle motion involves the physical movement of particles. In wave motion, the particles themselves do not travel with the wave, but rather oscillate in place. In particle motion, the particles themselves move from one location to another.
Wave motion has many real-life applications. Some examples include sonar technology, which uses sound waves to detect objects underwater, and MRI machines, which use electromagnetic waves to create images of the human body. Other applications include radio communication, seismic waves for earthquake detection, and musical instruments that produce sound waves for creating music.