Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

Front

Wave Noun

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[wayv]

Back

Wave

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A disturbance that transfers energy from one point to another without transferring matter through oscillations or vibrations.

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Example: This diagram shows a longitudinal wave (top), like sound, as areas of compression and rarefaction, and relates its properties to a transverse wave graph (bottom).

Front

Vibration Noun

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[vahy-brey-shuhn]

Back

Vibration

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A rapid back-and-forth motion or oscillation that is the source of a wave, propagating energy away from it.

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Example: A vibrating guitar string causes nearby air particles to vibrate, creating a longitudinal sound wave that travels to the ear, allowing us to hear.

Front

Medium Noun

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[mee-dee-uhm]

Back

Medium

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The substance, such as a solid, liquid, or gas, through which a mechanical wave propagates or travels.

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Example: A wave travels through a medium, which is the substance carrying the wave. The duck bobs up and down, showing the water particles oscillate without moving forward.

Front

Transverse Wave Noun

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[trans-vurs wayv]

Back

Transverse Wave

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A wave where the medium's particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction of the wave's energy propagation.

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Example: This diagram shows a transverse wave, labeling its key features: the highest point (crest), lowest point (trough), height from equilibrium (amplitude), and length of one cycle (wavelength).

Front

Longitudinal Wave Noun

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[lon-ji-tood-n-l wayv]

Back

Longitudinal Wave

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A wave where the medium's particles oscillate parallel to the direction of the wave's energy propagation.

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Example: This diagram shows a longitudinal wave as a series of high-density compressions and low-density rarefactions, with particle vibration parallel to the wave's direction of propagation.

Front

Mechanical Wave Noun

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[muh-kan-i-kuhl wayv]

Back

Mechanical Wave

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A wave that requires a physical medium, such as a solid, liquid, or gas, to transfer its energy.

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Example: This diagram shows a hand creating a disturbance in a spring (the medium), causing a transverse wave to travel along it, which is a type of mechanical wave.

Front

Electromagnetic Wave Noun

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[ih-lek-troh-mag-net-ik wayv]

Back

Electromagnetic Wave

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A wave composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that can travel through a vacuum without a medium.

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Example: This diagram shows the visible light spectrum, an example of electromagnetic waves, illustrating how different colors correspond to different wavelengths of a transverse wave.

Front

Crest Noun

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[krest]

Back

Crest

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The point on a transverse wave that exhibits the maximum amount of positive or upward displacement from the rest position.

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Example: This diagram of a transverse wave shows that the 'crest' is the highest point, or peak, the wave reaches from its resting position.

Front

Trough Noun

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[trof]

Back

Trough

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The point on a transverse wave that exhibits the maximum amount of negative or downward displacement from the rest position.

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Example: This diagram of a transverse wave identifies the 'trough' as the lowest point in the wave's cycle, opposite the 'peak' or highest point.

Front

Compression Noun

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[kuhm-presh-uhn]

Back

Compression

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A region in a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are closest together, representing high pressure.

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Example: This diagram shows a longitudinal wave, where compression is the area where the parts of the medium are crowded together.