LONGITUDINAL/TRANSVERSE

LONGITUDINAL WAVES

In a longitudinal wave the particle displacement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation. The animation at right shows a one-dimensional longitudinal plane wave propagating down a tube. The particles do not move down the tube with the wave; they simply oscillate back and forth about their individual equilibrium positions. Pick a single particle and watch its motion. The wave is seen as the motion of the compressed region (it is a pressure wave), which moves from left to right.

EXAMPLES;

TRANSVERSE WAVE

In a transverse wave the particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. The animation below shows a one-dimensional transverse plane wave propagating from left to right. The particles do not move along with the wave; they simply oscillate up and down about their individual equilibrium positions as the wave passes by. Pick a single particle and watch its motion.

The S waves (Secondary waves) in an earthquake are examples of Transverse waves. S waves propagate with a velocity slower than P waves, arriving several seconds later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Rbuhdo0AZDU  

         LONGITUDINAL WAVE / TRANSVERSE WAVE