Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Properties of Waves
Dr. DeBacco
Light Waves
Light waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation energy that travels through space as oscillating electric and magnetic fields.
Unlike sound or water waves, light doesn’t need a medium to travel.
Light waves are regarded as a varying electric field (E) coupled with a varying magnetic field (B), at right angles to each other and to the direction of travel.
Transverse Waves
Transverse Waves: The electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
Transverse nature allows light to be polarized, which means we can filter or align the direction of its electric field.
Key Wave Properties
Amplitude
Wavelength
Frequency
Period
Speed
Amplitude
Amplitude refers to the maximum strength of the electric and magnetic fields that make up the wave.
Quantifies how intense or energetic the wave is but it does not impact the color of the light.
A larger amplitude means the wave carries more energy and appears brighter.
A smaller amplitude means less energy and dimmer light.
Wavelength (λ )
Wavelength in light waves refers to the distance between two consecutive peaks (or troughs) of the electromagnetic wave.
Represented by the Greek letter λ (lambda)
This determines the color of light.
Measured in nanometers (nm) for visible light
Frequency
Frequency in light waves refers to how many wave cycles pass a point in one second.
Determines the energy and color of the light.
Measured in hertz (Hz): 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second
Period
The period of a light wave refers to the time it takes for one complete wave cycle to pass a given point.
This is the inverse of frequency
Frequency tells you how many cycles occur per second
Period tells you how long each cycle lasts
Symbol: T
Units: seconds (s)
Formula: T = 1/f
T is the period
f is the frequency in hertz (Hz)
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/12I8F_1vIwmbwSJi5B5wGoPiLaATBZvGj/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Properties of Waves" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/15jJXCV-BYFhNzGNz2ElFCaJ-4SKMRB0G/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
Speed
Speed, when it comes to light waves, refers to how fast the electromagnetic wave travels through space or a medium. In a vacuum (like outer space) this speed is a universal constant.
Denoted by c
The speed of a light wave is linked to its frequency (f) and wavelength (λ) by the equation:
c=f⋅λ
Higher frequency → shorter wavelength
Lower frequency → longer wavelength
But the product of the two always equals the speed of light in a vacuum
Properties of Waves
Dr. DeBacco
Light Waves
Light waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation energy that travels through space as oscillating electric and magnetic fields.
Unlike sound or water waves, light doesn’t need a medium to travel.
Light waves are regarded as a varying electric field (E) coupled with a varying magnetic field (B), at right angles to each other and to the direction of travel.
Transverse Waves
Transverse Waves: The electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
Transverse nature allows light to be polarized, which means we can filter or align the direction of its electric field.
Key Wave Properties
Amplitude
Wavelength
Frequency
Period
Speed
Amplitude
Amplitude refers to the maximum strength of the electric and magnetic fields that make up the wave.
Quantifies how intense or energetic the wave is but it does not impact the color of the light.
A larger amplitude means the wave carries more energy and appears brighter.
A smaller amplitude means less energy and dimmer light.
Wavelength (λ )
Wavelength in light waves refers to the distance between two consecutive peaks (or troughs) of the electromagnetic wave.
Represented by the Greek letter λ (lambda)
This determines the color of light.
Measured in nanometers (nm) for visible light
Frequency
Frequency in light waves refers to how many wave cycles pass a point in one second.
Determines the energy and color of the light.
Measured in hertz (Hz): 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second
Period
The period of a light wave refers to the time it takes for one complete wave cycle to pass a given point.
This is the inverse of frequency
Frequency tells you how many cycles occur per second
Period tells you how long each cycle lasts
Symbol: T
Units: seconds (s)
Formula: T = 1/f
T is the period
f is the frequency in hertz (Hz)
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/12I8F_1vIwmbwSJi5B5wGoPiLaATBZvGj/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Properties of Waves" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/15jJXCV-BYFhNzGNz2ElFCaJ-4SKMRB0G/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
Speed
Speed, when it comes to light waves, refers to how fast the electromagnetic wave travels through space or a medium. In a vacuum (like outer space) this speed is a universal constant.
Denoted by c
The speed of a light wave is linked to its frequency (f) and wavelength (λ) by the equation:
c=f⋅λ
Higher frequency → shorter wavelength
Lower frequency → longer wavelength
But the product of the two always equals the speed of light in a vacuum
