Waves

One way energy travels is in waves. Though they have much in common, each wave can also be very different. All waves have a crest, trough, minimum and maximum. Each wave has its own speed though. No matter what, every wave is classified as either a transverse or longitudinal wave. Every wave also has a medium in which it travels through. Some examples of mediums are water, rope, and even air. Waves are caused when energy transfers through a vibrating source. The fastness of a wave depends on the medium in which the wave travels through. Electromagnetic waves though, do not use a medium to travel through. The main types of waves are electromagnetic waves, mechanical waves and matter waves. Transverse waves cause the material the wave travels through to move perpendicular to the source of the waves while longitudinal waves cause the material in which the wave travels through to move parallel to the source of the wave. When a wave is created, the material itself does not actually move, it is the disturbance that moves.