Lesson 1: Transverse Waves/ Longitudinal Waves

Question 1

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 1

• A transverse wave is where the oscillations (movements) of the particles are PERPENDICULAR to the direction of energy transfer.

Question 2

What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer 2

• A longitudinal wave is where the oscillations (movements) of the particles are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.

Question 3

What are the 2 AREAS in longitudinal waves?

Answer 3

• Areas of rarefaction (where particles are far apart.)
• Areas of compression (where particles are close together.)

Question 4

What type of wave: is a sound wave travelling through air?

Answer 4

• Sound wave travelling through air = longitudinal wave.

Question 5

What do waves transfer?

Answer 5

• Waves transfer energy from one place to another. They don’t transfer matter/ particles.

Question 6

What type of wave is: ripples on the water surface?

Answer 6

• Transverse wave.

Question 7

What is a difference between longitudinal/ transverse waves (in terms of needing particles/ medium to travel through?)

Answer 7

1.) All longitudinal waves require a medium (particles) to travel in ie. air, liquid, solid.
2.) Not all transverse waves require a medium to travel in.

Question 8

True or False

In ripples on the water surface/ sound waves in air, the medium is travelling ie. the water and the air.

Answer 8

• FALSE!!
• It is the wave and not the water/ air that travels itself.

Question 9

True or False

Particles in a wave will move through a medium.

Answer 9

• False.
• Particles OSCILLATE they don’t travel - it is the WAVE that is travelling!!