🌊 Longitudinal Wave (👉👉)
A longitudinal wave is a type of wave in which the particles of the medium move back and forth in the same direction as the wave travels. The motion of the particles is parallel to the direction of the wave.
When the wave passes through the medium, it creates areas where particles are close together (called compressions) and areas where they are spread out (called rarefactions).
📌 Example:
Sound waves in air: When someone speaks, the air particles near their mouth vibrate back and forth, creating compressions and rarefactions that travel through the air to our ears.
Slinky spring: If you push and pull one end of a stretched slinky, you’ll see waves moving forward as coils bunch up and spread out — that’s a longitudinal wave.
🔑 Key Features:
Particle motion: Parallel to wave direction
Contains: Compressions and rarefactions
Needs a medium (like air, water, or solid) to travel
Can’t travel in a vacuum (e.g., no sound in space)
🌈 Transverse Wave (↕️➡️)
A transverse wave is a type of wave in which the particles of the medium move up and down, perpendicular (at a right angle) to the direction the wave is moving.
The wave looks like a series of hills and valleys. The highest point is called the crest, and the lowest point is called the trough.
📌 Example:
Light waves: They are electromagnetic waves that move in space and do not need a medium.
Water waves: When you throw a stone into water, the ripples move outward, but the water itself moves up and down.
Waves on a rope: If you move one end of a rope up and down, the wave moves sideways while the rope moves vertically.
🔑 Key Features:
Particle motion: Perpendicular to wave direction
Has crests and troughs
Light and electromagnetic waves are transverse
Can travel in vacuum (like sunlight through space)
