Waves
Waves are fundamental to our existence. They manifest as sound, light, and physical movements in our oceans.
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Essentially, waves are oscillating movements that transport energy through a medium.
This energy-carrying property has significant implications. Waves with varying wavelengths and directions converge at every point within the medium, yet remain independent of each other, as dictated by the laws of energy.
Furthermore, each independent wave possesses a constant energy, which can be expressed as the sum of the energies of its two components. Consider, for example, the electric and magnetic fields in an oscillator. The cyclical nature of waves necessitates a description of their energy and components using a triangle that transforms around a circle. This triangle has a width and height defined by a phase, expressed mathematically as (Ep)^2 = (sinp)^2 + (cosp)^2, where p represents the phase or angle.
Any energy composition eventually repeats after a period determined by the wave's frequency. The laws of energy conservation and the constant energy of a wave make the aforementioned equation the only description of wave behavior. Remarkably, every oceanic wave, sound wave, and electromagnetic wave adheres to the same mathematical principles. Complex waves can be characterized by describing each component as an aggregate itself.
There are three primary types of waves, each reflecting a different energy level. Firstly, waves that become trapped form a standing wave, emitting some energy in the process. Uranium atoms exemplify this phenomenon. These standing waves can only be split and reverted to their wave form if struck by an energy wave with the right phase and direction. Essentially, they represent a void in the energy field that requires energy for division. Upon splitting, the resulting waves possess the total energy defined by the equation E=mc^2.
The second type, radiation, generates waves akin to a stone dropped into a lake. These waves attain sufficient energy to escape their origin, spreading in a circular pattern on water surfaces or a spherical pattern around radio antennas. The wave's energy is directly proportional to the arc or area of the wavefront at a given distance.
Having reached the escape energy, these waves dissipate in space, interacting with other waves. Slow nuclear radiation, for instance, can create superposition effects in locations where it splits other atoms.
Lastly, standing waves typically resonate and absorb other waves, leading to changes in their shape. Laser light achieves a uniform directionality to maintain focus, attaining a fast new "orbital" energy collectively. However, it does not reach the escape energy required to become independent circular or spherical wave. Standing waves may receive an impulse and continue oscillating while drifting in a new direction. Material standing waves exhibit this behavior, moving with a spin, much like an amoeba.
Crucially, we must acknowledge the inherent connection between a wave and its medium. The law of energy conservation dictates that waves cannot exist without a medium. Waves carry energy, and this energy must be stored through the movement or tension of a medium possessing mass.
If the medium ceases to oscillate, the wave either transitions to another medium with different parameters or returns through the medium on the incoming side, resulting in refraction or reflection.
This discussion has focused on basic physics. However, it leads to the profound conclusion that even electromagnetic waves require a medium for propagation. The particles comprising this "ether" are likely so tiny that they elude measurement with our current toolset.