transverse and longitudinal waves

• when waves travel through a medium, the particles of the medium oscillate and transfer energy between each other. but overall the particles stay in the same place - only energy is transferred
• the amplitude of the wave is the maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed position
• the wavelength is the distance between the same point on two adjacent waves
• frequency is the number of complete waves passing a certain point per second. frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz). 1 Hz is 1 wave per second
• you can find period using period = 1 / frequency
• wave

  
• transverse waves, the oscillations (vibrations) are perpendicular at 90 degrees, so the direction of energy transfer. most waves are transverse, including electromagnetic waves, ripples and wave on a string
• in transverse waves, vibrations go up and down
• longitudinal waves have parallel vibrations , the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer . examples are sound waves, shock waves.
• in longitudinal, vibrations go in the same direction as waves travel.

  
• wave speed = frequency x wavelength
• the wave speed is the speed at which energy is being transferred