Transverse and longitudinal waves

• types of waves

  • transverse
  • longitudinal
• what is a transverse wave?

  wave for which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
• what is a longitudinal wave?

  wave for which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
• 2 examples of transverse waves

  • electromagnetic waves
  • seismic s-waves
• 2 examples of longitudinal waves

  • sound waves
  • seismic p-waves
• 2 parts of a longitudinal wave names

  compressions and rarefactions
• Another eg of transverse waves

  Ripple on a water surface
• For both ripples on a water surface and sound waves in air, it is the wave and not the water or air itself that travels
• Difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?

  All Longitudinal waves require a medium to travel in e.g. air, liquid or solid. Not all transverse waves require a medium