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Chapter 6: Problem 3

What is the difference between a longitudinal wave and a transverse wave? Give an example of each.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The main difference between longitudinal waves and transverse waves is the direction of particle motion relative to the direction of wave propagation. In longitudinal waves, particles move parallel to the direction of wave propagation, while in transverse waves, they move perpendicular to it. An example of a longitudinal wave is a sound wave, where particles in the air move parallel to the direction of wave travel. A transverse wave example is a light wave or a wave on a string, where particles move perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

Step by step solution

01

Define Longitudinal Waves

Longitudinal waves are waves in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. In other words, the motion of the particles is in the same direction as the wave energy.
02

Define Transverse Waves

Transverse waves are waves in which the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. The motion of the particles is at right angles to the direction of the wave energy.
03

Explain Differences

The main difference between longitudinal waves and transverse waves is the direction of particle motion relative to the direction of wave propagation. In longitudinal waves, the particles move parallel to the direction of wave propagation, while in transverse waves, they move perpendicular to it.
04

Example of Longitudinal Waves

An example of a longitudinal wave is a sound wave. When sound waves travel through the air, the particles in the air are displaced parallel to the direction of the wave travel, creating areas of compression and rarefaction.
05

Example of Transverse Waves

An example of a transverse wave is a light wave or a wave on a string. When a string is plucked or shaken, the particles of the string move up and down, perpendicular to the direction of the wave travel. Similarly, in light waves, the electric and magnetic fields oscillate at right angles to the direction of the wave propagation.

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