Asked by yo pap

What is the main difference between a longitudinal wave and a transverse wave?

A longitudinal wave always travels faster than a transverse wave.
A longitudinal wave does not need a medium to travel through.
A transverse wave is made of particles that move perpendicular to the motion of the wave.
A transverse wave always carries more energy so that it can travel through empty space.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
"A transverse wave is made of particles that move perpendicular to the motion of the wave."

Explanation: In transverse waves particles oscillate perpendicular to the wave direction (e.g., waves on a string), while in longitudinal waves particles oscillate parallel to the wave direction (e.g., sound in air).