Distinguish between longitudinal and transverse waves. Do all waves fall into one or the other of these categories? If not, give an example of one that does not?
In a longitudinal wave the particle displacement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
In a transverse wave the particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
Longitudinal waves can propagate through either solid , fluid and gas media, but transverse waves can propagate only in solids.
Transverse waves: vibrating guitar string, water waves, doing "the wave" at a stadium
Longitudinal waves: sound waves
Longitudinal and transverse waves are two different types of waves that can be distinguished based on the direction of the wave's oscillations or vibrations.
1. Longitudinal Waves:
In longitudinal waves, the oscillations of particles occur parallel to the direction of wave propagation. This means that the particles move back and forth along the same line as the wave is traveling. A common example of a longitudinal wave is a sound wave traveling through a medium, like air or water. As the sound wave propagates, the air particles vibrate back and forth along the same direction as the wave is moving.
2. Transverse Waves:
In transverse waves, the oscillations of particles occur perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. This means that the particles move up and down or side to side, perpendicular to the motion of the wave. An example of a transverse wave is a wave on a string. As the wave travels along the string, the particles of the string move up and down perpendicular to the motion of the wave.
While many waves can be categorized as either longitudinal or transverse, there are also waves that do not neatly fit into these categories. One example is a surface wave, such as an ocean wave (also known as a water wave). Ocean waves have both longitudinal and transverse components. The water particles near the surface move in a circular or elliptical motion, with some particles moving in the direction of the wave (longitudinal) and others moving perpendicular to it (transverse).