Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

• Transverse Waves

  • Oscillations are Perpendicular to the Direction of Energy Transfer
  • Electromagnetic Waves, Light and radio are examples of Transverse Waves
• Longitudinal Waves

  • Oscillations that are Parallel to the Direction of Energy Transfer
  • Longitudinal waves show areas of compression and rarefaction
  • Sound waves travelling through air are longitudinal
• Amplitude

  • The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a point on a wave away from its undisturbed position
• Wavelength

  • The wavelength of a wave is the distance from a point on one wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave
• Frequency

  • The frequency of a wave is the number of waves passing a point each second