Longitudinal & Transverse Waves
Physics: AQA A Level, topic 3.1.3
Transverse Waves
Here are some examples of transverse waves:
Moving springs
- Waving/moving the coils of a spring will make the coils move up and down as the wave passes.
- They then return to their original position after the wave has passed.
- This shows that a wave moves without transferring matter because the spring coils do not travel along with the wave.
Mexican wave
- A “Mexican wave” at a sports event is an example of a transverse wave.
- The wave spreads around the stadium as the people stand up and sit down one after the other (at right angles to the direction of the people’s motion).
Corks bobbing
- A cork bobbing on the water shows how a transverse wave works.
Longitudinal Waves
Here are some example of longitudinal waves:
Pulling & pushing springs
- Pushing the spring in and out (compressing and extending), longitudinal waves are created.
- The coils and the wave move along the same line.
Sound waves
- Sound waves are longitudinal waves.
P-waves
- P-waves are pressure waves created during earthquakes.
- They are longitudinal waves.
Electromagnetic Waves
All electromagnetic waves are transverse and travel at the same speed.
Transverse
- All electromagnetic waves are transverse waves.
- The electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation.
- All electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light, c, in a vacuum.
- The speed of light is c = 3 x 108 m/s.
Test yourself on Longitudinal & Transverse Waves
In what direction do the particles move relative to a transverse wave's direction?
In what position do particles end up after a transverse wave has passed?
What are some examples of transverse waves?
What are some examples of longitudinal waves?
In what direction do the particles move relative to the direction of a longitudinal wave?