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Observing Waves

Many waves cannot be seen with the naked eye. They are invisible. We are able to see and study water waves.

Water waves

Water waves

  • Water waves are transverse waves.
  • In a small pond, these waves are called ripples.
  • Waves moving up and down can be described as undulations.
  • The tallest water wave ever recorded happened in 1958 in Alaska. It was over 100ft tall.
Superposition

Superposition

  • Waves can be added together or cancel each other out.
    • This is called superposition.
  • If waves superpose by adding together, they will get bigger and increase amplitude.
  • Waves will cancel each other out if, when the waves combine, one wave's peak meets the other wave's trough.
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