WAVES A wave is a disturbance that carries energy from one place to another.
Transverse Waves TRANSVERSE WAVES
Transverse waves are waves in which the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the propagation of the wave.
The direction of propagation is the direction the energy is moving in. Direction
of vibration Transverse wave
Direction of movement of energy
Fig 10.1:Transverse wave
Longitudinal Waves LONGITUDINAL WAVES
Longitudinal waves are waves in which the direction of vibration is parallel to the propagation of the wave.
Direction of vibration Longitudinal wave Compression Rarefaction Fig 10.2: Longitudinal wave SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY
Examples • Transverse waves: electromagnetic spectrum, including visible light and radio waves, waves in water, waves on a rope
Vibrating source
Fig 10.3: Compression waves on a slinky
156 INVESTIGATING PHYSICS
• Longitudinal waves: sound, compression waves on a slinky Seismic waves
When an earthquake occurs, the shockwave that travels through the Earth is a seismic wave.This type of wave is made up of both longitudinal and transverse waves.
