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Knowunity Philippines
11/20/2025
Science
Light, sound, and waves: Nature and properties of waves
11
•
Nov 20, 2025
•
Exploring Waves: Light, Sound, and Their Properties
Knowunity Philippines
@knowunityphilippines
1 / 10
Wave Fundamentals and Types
Ever wondered how energy travels without anything actually moving from place to place? That's exactly what waves do - they're disturbances that carry energy through space or materials without transferring the actual matter itself.
Think of it like this: when you drop a stone into a pond, the ripples spread outward, but the water doesn't actually travel with the wave. The water just moves up and down whilst the energy travels across the surface.
There are two main types of waves you need to know about. Mechanical waves need something to travel through (called a medium) - like sound waves travelling through air or earthquake waves moving through the ground. Electromagnetic waves are pretty amazing because they can zip through empty space - that's how sunlight reaches Earth and how your WiFi works!
Remember This: Light waves are transverse (particles vibrate up and down), whilst sound waves are longitudinal (particles vibrate back and forth in the same direction the wave travels).
Key Wave Properties You Need to Know
Understanding wave properties is like having a toolkit for analysing any wave situation. Once you grasp these basics, you'll be able to tackle most wave problems with confidence.
Amplitude tells you how much energy a wave carries - it's the maximum distance the wave moves from its resting position. Bigger amplitude means more energy, which is why massive tsunami waves are so destructive, and why a motorcycle engine sounds much louder than a whisper.
Wavelength is simply the distance between two identical points on the wave (like crest to crest), measured in metres. Frequency counts how many complete waves pass by in one second, measured in hertz (Hz). Here's the clever bit - these two are connected! High frequency means short wavelength, and vice versa.
Quick Check: Your ears can detect sounds from about 20 Hz (really low rumble) up to 20,000 Hz (super high squeak). The frequency determines the pitch - high frequency = high pitch!
Sound Waves in Action
Sound waves are longitudinal mechanical waves that create all the audio experiences in your daily life. They work by squashing and stretching air molecules as they travel along.
When you clap your hands, you compress the air between your palms, which pushes neighbouring air molecules, creating a wave that spreads in all directions. Sound travels much faster through solid materials than through air - that's why you might hear a train through railway tracks before hearing it through the air.
The pitch you hear depends entirely on frequency. A bird's high-pitched chirp has high frequency, whilst thunder rumbling during a storm has low frequency. Loudness depends on amplitude - more energy means louder sound, measured on the decibel scale where normal conversation sits around 60 decibels.
Here's something cool: during thunderstorms, you always see lightning before hearing thunder because light travels incredibly faster than sound. Count the seconds between the flash and the rumble, then divide by 3 to estimate how far away the lightning struck in kilometres!
Fun Fact: Bats and dolphins use echolocation - they emit high-frequency sounds and interpret the returning echoes to 'see' their surroundings, even in complete darkness.
Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Light is an electromagnetic wave that doesn't need any medium to travel through - it can zip through empty space at an incredible 300 million metres per second. This is why we can see stars that are millions of kilometres away.
Visible light is actually just a tiny slice of the massive electromagnetic spectrum. Radio waves (longest wavelengths) carry your favourite music and mobile phone signals. Microwaves heat your food and power radar systems. Infrared radiation is the heat you feel from a fire or direct sunlight.
The visible light we see includes all colours from red (longest wavelength) to violet (shortest wavelength). When white light hits a prism, it splits into a beautiful spectrum showing all these colours - the same thing happens when sunlight creates rainbows through water droplets after rain.
Refraction explains loads of everyday mysteries. It's why a straw looks bent in a glass of water, why swimming pools look shallower than they really are, and how your glasses can correct your vision by bending light rays.
Remember This: UV radiation from the sun can damage your skin, which is why sunscreen is essential. X-rays can see through your body for medical scans, whilst gamma rays are so powerful they're used in cancer treatments.
Wave Calculations Made Simple
The wave equation is your secret weapon for solving wave problems: v = fλ . Once you know any two values, you can easily calculate the third.
Let's try a sound example: A musical note A has a frequency of 440 Hz and sound travels at 343 m/s through air. To find wavelength, rearrange the equation to λ = v ÷ f. So λ = 343 ÷ 440 = 0.78 metres. That's about 78 centimetres!
For light calculations, the numbers get much bigger. Red light has a wavelength of 700 nanometres (that's 0.0000007 metres!). Using the same equation rearranged as f = v ÷ λ, and knowing light speed is 3 × 10⁸ m/s, you get a frequency of about 430 trillion Hz - mind-blowing numbers!
The key is keeping your units consistent: speed in metres per second, frequency in hertz, and wavelength in metres. Don't let the big numbers intimidate you - the maths is exactly the same whether you're calculating sound waves or light waves.
Study Tip: Practice rearranging v = fλ in all three ways until it becomes automatic. This single equation unlocks most wave calculations you'll encounter!
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Exploring Waves: Light, Sound, and Their Properties
Knowunity Philippines
@knowunityphilippines
Waves are everywhere around you - from the music streaming through your earphones to the sunlight brightening your room. Understanding how waves work helps explain tons of everyday phenomena, from why thunder comes after lightning to how your mobile phone... Show more
Wave Fundamentals and Types
Ever wondered how energy travels without anything actually moving from place to place? That's exactly what waves do - they're disturbances that carry energy through space or materials without transferring the actual matter itself.
Think of it like this: when you drop a stone into a pond, the ripples spread outward, but the water doesn't actually travel with the wave. The water just moves up and down whilst the energy travels across the surface.
There are two main types of waves you need to know about. Mechanical waves need something to travel through (called a medium) - like sound waves travelling through air or earthquake waves moving through the ground. Electromagnetic waves are pretty amazing because they can zip through empty space - that's how sunlight reaches Earth and how your WiFi works!
Remember This: Light waves are transverse (particles vibrate up and down), whilst sound waves are longitudinal (particles vibrate back and forth in the same direction the wave travels).
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Key Wave Properties You Need to Know
Understanding wave properties is like having a toolkit for analysing any wave situation. Once you grasp these basics, you'll be able to tackle most wave problems with confidence.
Amplitude tells you how much energy a wave carries - it's the maximum distance the wave moves from its resting position. Bigger amplitude means more energy, which is why massive tsunami waves are so destructive, and why a motorcycle engine sounds much louder than a whisper.
Wavelength is simply the distance between two identical points on the wave (like crest to crest), measured in metres. Frequency counts how many complete waves pass by in one second, measured in hertz (Hz). Here's the clever bit - these two are connected! High frequency means short wavelength, and vice versa.
Quick Check: Your ears can detect sounds from about 20 Hz (really low rumble) up to 20,000 Hz (super high squeak). The frequency determines the pitch - high frequency = high pitch!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
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Sound Waves in Action
Sound waves are longitudinal mechanical waves that create all the audio experiences in your daily life. They work by squashing and stretching air molecules as they travel along.
When you clap your hands, you compress the air between your palms, which pushes neighbouring air molecules, creating a wave that spreads in all directions. Sound travels much faster through solid materials than through air - that's why you might hear a train through railway tracks before hearing it through the air.
The pitch you hear depends entirely on frequency. A bird's high-pitched chirp has high frequency, whilst thunder rumbling during a storm has low frequency. Loudness depends on amplitude - more energy means louder sound, measured on the decibel scale where normal conversation sits around 60 decibels.
Here's something cool: during thunderstorms, you always see lightning before hearing thunder because light travels incredibly faster than sound. Count the seconds between the flash and the rumble, then divide by 3 to estimate how far away the lightning struck in kilometres!
Fun Fact: Bats and dolphins use echolocation - they emit high-frequency sounds and interpret the returning echoes to 'see' their surroundings, even in complete darkness.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Light is an electromagnetic wave that doesn't need any medium to travel through - it can zip through empty space at an incredible 300 million metres per second. This is why we can see stars that are millions of kilometres away.
Visible light is actually just a tiny slice of the massive electromagnetic spectrum. Radio waves (longest wavelengths) carry your favourite music and mobile phone signals. Microwaves heat your food and power radar systems. Infrared radiation is the heat you feel from a fire or direct sunlight.
The visible light we see includes all colours from red (longest wavelength) to violet (shortest wavelength). When white light hits a prism, it splits into a beautiful spectrum showing all these colours - the same thing happens when sunlight creates rainbows through water droplets after rain.
Refraction explains loads of everyday mysteries. It's why a straw looks bent in a glass of water, why swimming pools look shallower than they really are, and how your glasses can correct your vision by bending light rays.
Remember This: UV radiation from the sun can damage your skin, which is why sunscreen is essential. X-rays can see through your body for medical scans, whilst gamma rays are so powerful they're used in cancer treatments.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Wave Calculations Made Simple
The wave equation is your secret weapon for solving wave problems: v = fλ . Once you know any two values, you can easily calculate the third.
Let's try a sound example: A musical note A has a frequency of 440 Hz and sound travels at 343 m/s through air. To find wavelength, rearrange the equation to λ = v ÷ f. So λ = 343 ÷ 440 = 0.78 metres. That's about 78 centimetres!
For light calculations, the numbers get much bigger. Red light has a wavelength of 700 nanometres (that's 0.0000007 metres!). Using the same equation rearranged as f = v ÷ λ, and knowing light speed is 3 × 10⁸ m/s, you get a frequency of about 430 trillion Hz - mind-blowing numbers!
The key is keeping your units consistent: speed in metres per second, frequency in hertz, and wavelength in metres. Don't let the big numbers intimidate you - the maths is exactly the same whether you're calculating sound waves or light waves.
Study Tip: Practice rearranging v = fλ in all three ways until it becomes automatic. This single equation unlocks most wave calculations you'll encounter!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user