Characteristics of progressive waves (or) Travelling Waves

Characteristics of progressive waves

 1. Particles in the medium vibrate about their mean positions with the same amplitude.

2. The phase of every particle ranges from 0 to 2Ï€.

3. No particle remains at rest permanently. During wave propagation, particles come to the rest position only twice at the extreme points.

4. Transverse progressive waves are characterized by crests and troughs whereas longitudinal progressive waves are characterized by compressions and rarefactions.

5. When the particles pass through the mean position they always move with the same maximum velocity.

6. The displacement, velocity and acceleration of particles separated from each other by nλ are the same, where n is an integer, and λ is the wavelength.