Shaking a rope produces waves. A wave is the transmission of energy through space and time caused by a disturbance in space. In transverse waves energ

---

Shaking a rope produces waves. A wave is the transmission of energy through space and time caused by a disturbance in space. In transverse waves energy that is transmitted oscillates perpendicular to the direction the wave is travelling. Shaking a rope from side to side or up and down forms transverse waves. The same waves occur in electromagnetic energy, water and a guitar string. The top of the wave is called the crest and the distance between crests is the wave length. The very bottom of the wave is the trough and the mid-point between crest and trough is the equilibrium. The amplitude of a wave is measured from the equilibrium to the crest or trough. The rope is quite a rough and imprecise example but easy to achieve in the classroom.

---

Size: 7117px × 2456px
Photo credit: © MARTYN F. CHILLMAID/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: amplitude, crest, disturbance, electromagnetic, energy, equilibrium, oscillates, perpendicular, physics, rope, science, space, time, transmission, transverse, trough, water, wavelength, waves