Mechanical waves are classified into two categories and they are:
- Transverse waves
- Longitudinal waves
Longitudinal waves are defined as the waves that move back and forth in the same direction in a medium. Sound waves are examples of longitudinal waves.
Following are the properties of longitudinal waves:
- Longitudinal waves are mechanical waves because they need a medium for their propagation.
- Compressions and rarefactions are the two parts of the longitudinal waves that are seen when they propagate in a medium.
- Compression takes place when the particles are close to each other.
- Rarefaction takes place when the particles are far apart.
