What are transverse waves and longitudinal waves

Characteristics of transverse waves
👉 All particles of the medium in the path of the wave vibrate in the direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave with same period and amplitude.

👉 When transverse waves passes through a medium the medium is divided into alternate crests and troughs.

👉 A crest and an adjacent through makes one cycle of a transverse wave

👉 The distance measured along the wave between any two consecutive point which are in the same phase or the distance between two consecutive crest or troughs is called as the wavelength of the wave.

👉 Formation of alternate crest and troughs are responsible for the transfer of energy

👉 Transverse waves can travel through solids and on surface of liquids only . They cannot travel through liquids and gases.

👉 When a transverse wave propogates in a medium there is no change in pressure and density at any point of the medium, however the shape changes periodically which implies that medium posses the property of elasticity of shape i.e modulus of rigidity.

👉 Transverse waves can be polarised



Longitudinal Waves
Definition – A wave in which particles of the medium vibrate in a direction parallel to the direction of propagation of wave is called as longitudinal wave.
Example – Sound waves

Characteristics of longitudinal waves

✒️ All the particles of the medium along the path of the wave vibrate in a direction parallel to the direction of propogation of wave with same period and amplitude.

✒️ When longitudinal wave passes through a medium the medium is divided into regions of alternate compressions and rarefactions.

✒️ One compression and adjacent rarefaction forms one cycle of longitudinal wave

✒️ The distance measured along the wave between any two consecutive point which are in the same phase or the distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions is called as the wavelength of the wave.

✒️ Formation of alternate compressions and rarefactions are responsible for the transfer of energy.

✒️ Longitudinal wave can travel through solids, liquids and gases. They cannot travel through vacuum or free space.

✒️ There is a periodic change in pressure and density along the path of the wave when a longitudinal wave moves through a medium. Hence for the propogation of longitudinal wave the medium should posses the property of elasticity of volume i.e Bulk Modulus

✒️ Longitudinal waves cannot be polarised