transverse & longitudinal waves

what are the two types of waves?

• transverse

• longitudinal

what is a transverse wave?

in transverse waves the oscillations are perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to direction of energy transfer.

what is a longitudinal wave?

in longitudinal waves the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.

examples of transverse waves

• all electromagnetic waves e.g. light

• ripples in water

• a wave on string

what do longitudinal waves have?

• compressions

• rarefactions

what are compressions?

regions where the air particles are close together.

what are rarefactions?

regions where air particles are spaced out.

what is oscillations (vibrations)?

movement of waves, for example when waves move up and down.

what are sound waves traveling through air?

they are longitudinal.

what travels in ripples on water surface and sound waves in air?

for both ripples on a water surface and sound waves in air, it is the wave that travels and not the water or air.

what shows the wave traveling and not the ripples on a water surface in transverse waves?

• spring wiggled up and down gives a transverse wave.

• oscillations (vibrations) move up and down, does not travel along the medium.

• the wave travels sideways.

what shows the wave traveling and not the sound waves in air in a longitudinal wave?

• if you push the end of a spring you get a longitudinal wave.

• vibrations are in the same direction as the wave travels (side to side), does not travel through medium.