iit entrance- Wavemotion

longitudinal wave


This animation depicts Transverse and Longitudinal waves on a spring.



For transverse waves the disturbance (in this case the displacement of the slinky) is PERPENDICULAR to the direction the wave is moving (in this case along the slinky). For Longitudinal waves the disturbance is ALONG the direction the wave is moving. In some materials these two waves go at different speeds, and in fluids (liquids or gases) transverse sound waves don't go at all! (This is important for earthquake vibrations going through the earth's core).

A transverse wave is created by a disturbance that is perpendicular to the direction the wave will travel.


A longitudinal wave is created by a disturbance that is along the direction the wave will travel.




Physics: Transverse vs. longitudinal waves. Wave graphs. Velocity (v) versus frequency (f); frequency (f) versus angular frequency (ω)