Asked by hoovan
A longitudinal wave is a type of wave that transfers energy
to the direction of wave motion.
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
Your sentence is almost right but needs a small clarification. A clearer definition:
- A longitudinal (or compressional) wave is one in which the particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction the wave travels.
- As a result, energy is transferred along the same direction as the wave motion.
Examples and notes:
- Sound waves in air, liquids and solids are longitudinal: they produce alternating compressions and rarefactions.
- Primary (P) seismic waves are longitudinal.
- Longitudinal waves are mechanical, so they require a medium. By contrast, transverse waves (e.g., light, waves on a string) have particle motion perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
- A longitudinal (or compressional) wave is one in which the particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction the wave travels.
- As a result, energy is transferred along the same direction as the wave motion.
Examples and notes:
- Sound waves in air, liquids and solids are longitudinal: they produce alternating compressions and rarefactions.
- Primary (P) seismic waves are longitudinal.
- Longitudinal waves are mechanical, so they require a medium. By contrast, transverse waves (e.g., light, waves on a string) have particle motion perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
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