What are the two ways a wave which transfers energy from one place to another can move
- Transverse Waves
- Longitudinal Waves
What is a transverse wave
In a transverse wave, the particles of a substance vibrate at right angles to the direction of travel.
What is a longitudinal wave
In a longitudinal wave, the vibrations of the particles move parallel to the direction of travel.
Examples of a transverse wave
Water waves, em waves, radar, S waves in earthquakes.
Examples of longitudinal waves
Sound waves, P waves from earthquakes
What is the definition of a wave
The transfer of energy/ information by oscillations
What do water waves transfer
kinetic energy
What do sound waves transfer
sound energy
What are the (up and down) or (side to side) movements of waves called
oscillations
What are the regions in longitudinal waves where particles are close together called
compressions
What are the regions in longitudinal waves where regions are spaced out called
rarefactions
Whats the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves
All longitudinal waves require a medium to travel in e.g. air, a liquid, a solid.
Not all transverse waves require a medium.
How do ripples on a water surface or sound waves in air travel
It’s the wave that travels, not the water or air.
(Water waves) When the wave travels through, the molecule oscillates up and down but does not travel along the medium.
(Sound waves) When the wave travels through, the air particle oscillates from side to side but does not travel through the medium.
