Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

• What are the types of waves?

  Longitudinal and Transverse
• What are transverse waves?

  Waves where the oscillations (vibrations) are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
• What are longitudinal waves?

  Waves where the oscillations (vibrations) are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
• What do all longitudinal waves require to travel in that not all transverse waves require?

  A medium e.g. air, liquids or solids
• Explain how energy is transferred when stone is dropped in water?

  When a stone is dropped in water, ripples travel outwards carrying the energy
• Explain how waves transfer energy?

  The particles that make up a wave oscillate around a fixed point. They pass energy onto the next wave and so on. This process transfers energy but the matter remains
• When waves transfer energy, the energy moves along, but what happens to the matter?

  The matter remains
• How can the oscillations of transverse waves be demonstrated?

  By moving a rope or slinky spring up and down vertically (the wave then moves horizontally)
• How can the oscillations of longitudinal waves be demonstrated?

  By moving a rope or slinky spring back and forward horizontally (The wave moves horizontally)