Difference between longitudinal and transverse wave.

In a longitudinal wave, the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave . This means that the particles move left and right which in turn makes the other particles start to oscillate. Sound waves are longitudinal waves. Another example of a longitudinal wave is a P wave or primary wave during an earthquake. P waves are also known as compressional waves, because of the pushing and pulling they do. A transverse wave is a wave in which the motion of the medium is a right angles to the direction of the wave. A wave on a rope is a transverse wave. Light and other electromagnetic waves are also transverse waves. Another type of transverse wave is the S wave or secondary wave, which is the second wave you feel in an earthquake. read less

Transverse wave is the wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate about their mean position in a direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of wave. It travels in the form of crest and troughs. Longitudinal wave is the wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate about their mean position, parallel to the direction of propagation of waves. These waves consist of series of compression and rarefaction. read less

In a longitudinal wave, the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave . This means that the particles move left and right which in turn makes the other particles start to oscillate. Sound waves are longitudinal waves. Whereas A transverse wave is a wave in which the motion of the medium is a right angles to the direction of the wave. A wave on a rope is a transverse wave. Light and other electromagnetic waves are also transverse waves. read less

For transverse waves, the displacement of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. A ripple on a pond and a wave on a string are transverse waves. In longitudinal waves, the displacement of the medium is parallel to the propagation of the wave. Sound waves in air are longitudinal waves. A transverse wave cannot propagate in a gas or a liquid because there is no mechanism for driving motion perpendicular to the propagation of wave. The primary waves, called P waves, move with the highest velocity and are transverse waves. Secondary waves, called S waves are longitudinal waves and occur seconds after the primary waves. read less

Longitudinal Waves In a longitudinal wave, the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave . This means that the particles move left and right which in turn makes the other particles start to oscillate. Sound waves are longitudinal waves. Another example of a longitudinal wave is a P wave or primary wave during an earthquake. P waves are also known as compressional waves, because of the pushing and pulling they do Transverse Waves A transverse wave is a wave in which the motion of the medium is a right angles to the direction of the wave. A wave on a rope is a transverse wave. Light and other electromagnetic waves are also transverse waves. Another type of transverse wave is the S wave or secondary wave, which is the second wave you feel in an earthquake. read less

In a longitudinal wave, the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave . This means that the particles move left and right which in turn makes the other particles start to oscillate. Sound waves are longitudinal waves. Another example of a longitudinal wave is a P wave or primary wave during an earthquake. P waves are also known as compressional waves, because of the pushing and pulling they do. A transverse wave is a moving wave that consists of oscillations occurring perpendicular (or right angled) to the direction of energy transfer. If a transverse wave is moving in the positive x-direction, its oscillations are in up and down directions that lie in the y–z plane. read less