What a Wave

A wave is a repeating disturbance that transfers energy through a medium, such as water, air, or solid materials, without moving the medium itself over long distances. In water, for example, waves are caused by the wind, creating oscillations that travel across the surface. In sound, waves are vibrations traveling through the air into our ears. Waves are characterized by properties like frequency (how often they occur), wavelength (distance between waves), and amplitude (height or strength). They are fundamental to many natural processes, enabling energy transfer across space without the material points themselves traveling far.