A wave is a disturbance that propagates energy from one place to another without transporting any matter. A general example would be a stone hitting the surface of the water and creating ripples that travel in the shape of concentric circles with its radius increasing until they strike the boundary of the pond. There are various types of waves and two of those would be longitudinal and transverse waves.
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In a longitudinal wave, the medium or the channel moves in the same direction with respect to the wave. Here, the movement of the particles is from left to right and forces other particles to vibrate.
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In a transverse wave the medium or the channel moves perpendicular to the direction of the wave. Here, the particles move up and down as the waves move horizontally.
Difference Between Longitudinal and Transverse Wave
| Longitudinal | Transverse |
| The medium moves in the same direction of the wave | The medium is moving perpendicular to the direction of wave |
| It acts in one dimension | It acts in two dimensions |
| The wave cannot be polarized or aligned | The wave can be polarized or aligned |
| This wave can be produced in any medium such as gas, liquid or solid | This wave can be produced in solid and liquid’s surface |
| The earthquake P wave is an example | Earthquake S wave is an example |
| It is made of rarefactions and compressions | It is made of troughs and crests |
Watch the video below to understand in detail transverse and longitudinal waves.
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These were some differences between longitudinal and transverse waves. If you wish to find out more, download BYJU’S The Learning App.
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