Lecture Notes: Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

Objectives

• Describe the differences between transverse and longitudinal waves
• State examples of these types of waves
• Describe evidence that in wave motion, the wave moves, not the medium

Types of Waves

• Transverse Waves
• Longitudinal Waves

Transverse Waves

• Example: Ripples on the surface of water
• Characteristics:
  • Oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
  • Movement is up-and-down while energy transfer is sideways
• Energy: Transfers kinetic energy

Longitudinal Waves

• Example: Sound waves traveling in air
• Characteristics:
  • Oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
  • Consists of compressions and rarefactions:
    • Compressions: Regions where particles are close together
    • Rarefactions: Regions where particles are spaced out
• Energy: Transfers sound energy
• Medium Requirement: Requires a medium (air, liquid, or solid) to travel

Key Differences

• Transverse waves do not require a medium to travel, while longitudinal waves do.
• In longitudinal waves, oscillations are parallel to the energy transfer direction, whereas in transverse waves, they are perpendicular.

Important Concept

• Wave vs. Medium Movement:
  • It's the wave that travels, not the particles in the medium.
  • Demonstrated using slinky:
    • Transverse waves (e.g., water ripples) show particles oscillate up and down but don't travel horizontally.
    • Longitudinal waves (e.g., sound waves) show particles oscillate side to side but don't travel through the medium.

Additional Resources

• Revision Workbook: Contains questions on transverse and longitudinal waves. Available via provided link.