Wave

waves are disturbances. They are the result of displacement of something

  • ex. sound, ocean, electromagnetic

Transverse vs. Longitudinal waves

  • transverse - a wave where the oscillation occurs at a right angle to the direction of the sound
    • ex. when waves on the ocean move toward south, we have an up-down movement on the ocean's surface (ie. not north-south)
    • A transverse wave causes a particle to rise up and down, as it "rides the wave"
  • longitudinal - the oscillation occurs in the same direction that the sound wave is moving in.
    • ex. when a sound wave moves south, the air molecules are being disturbed in only a southward or northward direction.

Backlinks