Waves are caused by energy passing through the water, causing the water to move in a circular motion. Though waves do cause the surface water to move, the idea that waves are travelling bodies of water is misleading. Waves are actually energy passing through the water, causing it to move in a circular motion.

The run-off flows to dams downstream. The water falls through a dam, into the hydropower plant and turns a large wheel called a turbine. The turbine converts the energy of falling water into mechanical energy to drive the generator. It turns a shaft, which rotates a number of magnets in the generator.

Waves can transfer energy over distance without moving matter the entire distance. For example, an ocean wave can travel many kilometers without the water itself moving many kilometers. The water moves up and down—a motion known as a disturbance. It is the disturbance that travels in a wave, transferring energy.

Misconception Alert. Many people think that water waves push water from one direction to another. In fact, the particles of water tend to stay in one location, save for moving up and down due to the energy in the wave. The energy moves forward through the water, but the water stays in one place.

In conclusion, a wave can be described as a disturbance that travels through a medium, transporting energy from one location (its source) to another location without transporting matter. Each individual particle of the medium is temporarily displaced and then returns to its original equilibrium positioned.

amplitude

Vocabulary word Definition

However, all waves have common properties—amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed. Amplitude describes how far the medium in a wave moves. Wavelength describes a wave’s length, and frequency describes how often it occurs. Speed describes how quickly a wave moves.