Question

Why do longitudinal waves travel faster than transverse waves?

Answer 1

Longitudinal wave:

1. Longitudinal waves are waves in which the displacement of the medium moves in the same direction as the wave's propagation and the medium vibrates perpendicular to the wave's direction of travel.

Transverse wave:

1. A transverse wave is one whose oscillations are opposed to the direction in which the wave is moving forward.

Why do longitudinal waves travel faster than transverse waves?

1. Transverse wave transmission is slower than longitudinal wave transmission.
2. During an earthquake, this variation in speed between the longitudinal and transverse waves can be felt.
3. Both longitudinal and transverse waves are generated during an earthquake.
4. So, longitudinal waves travel faster than transverse waves, because, due to the perpendicular wave propagation, the vibration of the particle in the normal path serves as resistance in transverse waves and then waves' speed is slowed down by the resistance, which causes them to move more slowly than longitudinal waves.

Hence, due to the above reasons, longitudinal waves travel faster than transverse waves.