Talk:Wave

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This page has archives. Sections older than 365 days may be automatically archived by when more than 10 sections are present.

Metachronal waves

I think reference to metachronal rhythm or metachronal wave belongs in the intro, but can't think how to word it. Meanwhile, I parked a reference under Other, --Pawyilee (talk) 14:07, 17 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Gravitational waves

I really can't see how gravitational waves are important enough, uncontroversial enough or explanatory enough to be right up at the top. Especially not with the qualyfier "Researchers believe..." If somebody feels the need for advanced physics in the introduction of the concept of waves, why not bring up the central concept of quantum mechanic wave functions instead of the peripheral and hypothetical gravitational wave idea? Niffe (talk) 11:36, 26 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Ok... since no one seems to disagree, I'll take the gravitational wave part out, or rather move it to its appropriate place. Niffe (talk) 12:01, 4 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Time

Time is the reciprocal of distance, with one being defined in terms of the other. Treating time as an ephemeral dimension is the reciprocal of treating distance as the same. --Pawyilee (talk) 14:44, 27 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Non sinusoidal carriers

Are the equations in the section on Amplitude and modulation correct if the carrier is not sinusoidal? Must a carrier be sinusoidal? Thanks! --Lbeaumont (talk) 15:41, 21 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Can section be added to discuss energy transfer (and non-transfer) in waves?

Can section be added to discuss energy transfer (and non-transfer) in waves? Please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Work_%28physics%29#Waves_and_energy_transfer for a more in-depth posing of this request. Thanks! --Lbeaumont (talk) 16:12, 21 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Dispersion

the gif with Dispersion has been removed. will be placed as a hyperlink in text. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rlp17 (talk • contribs) 16:11, 19 May 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Air vs gas

Paul August reverted my edit to restore the language "air molecules" where I had changed it to "gas molecules." I am not intending to get into an edit war on this, but there is no such thing as an air molecule and it degrades WP's credibility to use such an inaccurate term, whether or not it is the custom. Altaphon (talk) 00:10, 19 November 2013 (UTC)[reply]

In this context (see my revert) I take "air molecules" to mean any of the several gas molecules which collectively constitue the air (e.g. N₂, O₂, CO₂ are all "air molecules") see for example this Google Books search. Paul August ☎ 12:52, 19 December 2014 (UTC)[reply]

transverse vs longitudinal

Currently the only mention of transverse vs longitudinal is the last paragraph of the intro. Should we have sections on the features of these types? RJFJR (talk) 15:42, 22 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Wave Motion definition

In the first paragraph, the definition for 'wave motion' is said to be " Wave motion transfers energy from one point to another, which displace particles of the transmission medium — that is, with little or no associated mass transport." But this makes it look like wave motion can only occur when there is a transmission medium. Should be changed. I changed the main definition for a wave from " a wave is an oscillation accompanied by a transfer of energy that travels through a medium (space or mass)." to "In physics, a wave is an oscillation accompanied by a transfer of energy from one point in space to another." as a wave can travel even without a medium

Someone can still frame the main definition for a wave better than I did and change the definition of wave motion. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.163.208.214 (talk) 16:41, 11 September 2016 (UTC)[reply]

intro sentences useless

The 1st 2 sentences:

"In physics, a wave is an oscillation accompanied by a transfer of energy. Frequency refers to the addition of time."

These 2 sentences, especially the 2nd one, can only be understood by people who already know most of what is in this article. Hence they are useless to 90% of readers. Something like "Disturbance/oscillation that moves/propagates through elastic matter or in case of electromagnetic waves even through vacuum." would be more useful, even if not so rigorous. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.146.157.136 (talk) 17:44, 13 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Fixed, I hope [1]. No such user (talk) 11:23, 22 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Gravity waves

This does not merit it's own section--it is a mechanical wave. In fact, the most common form of gravity waves are water waves, a subsection of above. 71.29.185.235 (talk)