Waves are disturbances that transfer energy without transferring matter. They can be found in various forms, such as water waves, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves.
Waves travel by oscillating around a fixed point or medium. In transverse waves, the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel, while in longitudinal waves, the oscillations are parallel to the direction of wave travel.
The speed of a wave is affected by the medium it travels through, the frequency of the wave, and the wavelength of the wave. In general, waves travel faster through denser mediums, and higher frequency and shorter wavelength waves travel faster.
Mechanical waves require a medium to travel through, while electromagnetic waves can travel through empty space. Mechanical waves also transfer energy by causing particles in the medium to vibrate, while electromagnetic waves transfer energy through oscillations of electric and magnetic fields.
Waves have many practical applications in everyday life. For example, sound waves are used in communication through telephones and radios, while radio waves and microwaves are used in wireless communication. Electromagnetic waves are also used in medical imaging, such as X-rays and MRIs, and in various technologies like GPS and WiFi.